One Missouri high school will not field a varsity football team this coming fall. Springfield Public Schools confirmed that Central High School will not compete at the varsity level in 2025.
Citing a lack of participation and a need for student safety, the decision was made to not play the planned varsity schedule, according to a report by The Springfield News-Leader. Instead, they will focus their attention on putting together a junior varsity schedule.
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The Bulldogs were set to start the season in two weeks. That opponent on Friday, August 29 was to be Hillcrest, who is now without a game unless they can find one on short notice.
"Some years, we've had 40-to-50 athletes to begin every year," Springfield Public Schools athletic director Josh Scott told KOLR10 sports director Dan Lucy. "This year's not that. We're regrouping."
Four years ago, Central snapped a 53-game losing streak, but struggled last season, going 0-10. They found success playing an independent schedule, but were looking at competing against stronger programs from the Ozark Mountain Conference and Southwest Conference, the report stated, this coming season.
Earlier this week, two Illinois eight-player schools confirmed that they will not field varsity teams in 2025, with a program in Nebraska at the eight-player level doing the same.
MORE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS NEWS:
- Two Illinois schools opt out for coming prep football season
- Nebraska program to just play junior varsity football in 2025
- Wildfires in Canada causing problems for Minnesota high school athletics