It was supposed to be the Alabama Warriors’ return to north Jefferson County, where it started five years ago.

Instead, Saturday night’s Xtreme South Football League game at Jimmie Trotter Stadium against the South Alabama Seminoles was more like The Game That Wasn’t Meant To Be Played.

The referees were involved in a car crash on their way from Georgia, and a replacement crew had to be summoned from Oneonta, but only three were available instead of a full crew of six. The game started nearly two hours late.

The Seminoles dressed just 19 players, and by the time halftime rolled around, three of them were out with injuries — partly because of rough play as teams took advantage of a lack of officials — and the team refused to play on.

After Warriors owner/coach Lee Ellison called the XSFL commissioner, the teams decided to play the second half before their scheduled rematch in Montgomery on March 31, to be followed by the regularly scheduled game.

After giving up an early touchdown, the Warriors first scored on a safety when the South Alabama punter fumbled a snap over his head and past the end line.

Rob Taylor ran in a second-quarter score that put the Warriors up 9-7 before the Seminoles answered with a late touchdown of their own.

The Warriors held a 2-0 record in the XSFL going into the game. They are scheduled to host the Escambia Sharks on Saturday night at Trotter Stadium (the old Mortimer Jordan High in Morris). Kickoff is at 6 p.m.