News Summary Seven Iowa high schools have canceled or paused their varsity football seasons this fall, primarily due to low participation rates and safety concerns. Schools like Lone Tree and Siouxland Christian faced challenges, with the latter canceling after a single game. Meanwhile, programs like Remsen-St. Mary’s and Highland are hoping to resume play later in the season. The situation at Des Moines Hoover High School has led to its program being dropped for the next season. This trend raises ongoing discussions about the sustainability of high school football in Iowa. Des Moines, Iowa – The varsity football seasons for seven Iowa high schools have been canceled or paused this fall due to low participation and safety concerns. The schools affected include Lone Tree, Rockford, Dunkerton, Siouxland Christian, Remsen-St. Mary’s, Highland (Riverside), and Mormon Trail. Lone Tree, Rockford, and Dunkerton canceled their seasons prior to any games. Siouxland Christian, on the other hand, canceled its football season after one game, where the team trailed 60-0 at halftime. Meanwhile, the reigning 2024 eight-player champion, Remsen-St. Mary’s, has opted to pause its season along with Highland and Mormon Trail, with hopes of resuming play later in the fall. The decision to cancel or pause the seasons primarily stems from low player participation numbers and concerns about athlete safety. Siouxland Christian reported having only 16 players on its roster, which ultimately led to the cancellation of the season. The school’s Superintendent indicated that canceling the season was the most responsible action to ensure the health and well-being of student-athletes. Prior to this cancellation, Siouxland Christian had a record of 1-8 in each of the last two seasons. Remsen-St. Mary’s, which began the current season with 17 players and only three upperclassmen following the graduation of 10 seniors, faced challenges from injuries, resulting in two game forfeits. Team coach Tim Osterman remarked on their predicament, stating the team had only 11 players available for their last match. Highland’s situation contributed to coach Cory Quail’s resignation, which was motivated by the desire to advocate for the team’s safety. Highland’s roster had dwindled to just 13 healthy players. With the current circumstances, there is an ongoing effort to evaluate player numbers at Remsen-St. Mary’s to determine if the team can resume its games by a certain date. The football program at Des Moines Hoover High School announced it will not field a team for the upcoming 2025 season because of low participation rates. Students from Hoover will have the option to join the Des Moines Roosevelt football program. The principal of Hoover emphasized that this decision was made with the safety and interest of students as top priorities. Hoover’s football program has faced considerable struggles over recent seasons, recording an overall score of 0-9 in the last two years and an average significant loss margin in their games. Head coach Theo Evans is transitioning to an assistant role on the coaching staff at Dallas Center-Grimes as part of restructuring efforts within the programs. As these changes unfold, the discussion around athlete safety and participation continues to rise in Iowa high school sports, prompting schools to reassess their programs and ensure the well-being of student-athletes. The impact of these decisions reaches beyond the immediate concerns of the teams affected, highlighting a broader issue regarding the sustainability of high school football in the state. Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic HERE Resources Norfolk School Board Delays Vote on School Consolidation Plan Aptos High School Cancels Classes Due to Power Outage Ribault High School Homecoming Dance Canceled Westside Community Schools to Resume Classes After Water Line Break Kyrene Elementary School District Considers School Closures Baltimore Ravens Overcome Cleveland Browns 41-17 Investigation Launches into Harford Tech Football Incident High School Football Game Canceled Due to Injury Mental Health Incident Postpones Football Game Safety Concerns Lead to Cancellation of High School Football Game Additional Resources KCRG: Iowa High School Football Programs Canceled or Paused KCCI: Seven Iowa High Schools Cancel or Pause Varsity Season WHO13: Hoover High School Explores New Opportunities Wikipedia: High School Football in the United States Google Search: Iowa High School Football Participation Levels
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