By Jon Gulliver
Staff writer
Although it’s not a high school sport, eight-man football is gaining traction in the region thanks to the Aroostook Football league. The success of that league hasn’t been lost on the Maine Principals’ Association which is now looking into whether eight-man football could work for Maine schools.
Aroostook Republican photo/Jon Gulliver
Scott Delong of the Aroostook Huskies finds some running room against the Valley Mustangs this past season. The Maine Principals’ Association is looking at whether eight-man football would be a good option for some schools in the state.
The football committee of the MPA agreed during its postseason meeting late last month to conduct a statewide survey of high schools to see if there is sufficient interest in the sport. If there is, the organization could add an eight-man football division by 2013.
MPA assistant executive director Mike Burnham told The Bangor Daily News that eight-man football may be a way for smaller schools without traditional 11-man teams to introduce the sport and get more students involved. It may also be a way for schools struggling with declining enrollment to continue the sport.
Football hasn’t been played at County high schools for more than 50 years and the likelihood of an area school system having the funds to field an eight-man team are remote. However the prospect is intriguing to Stu Wyckoff, the driving force behind the creation of the Aroostook Football League and coach of the Central Aroostook Huskies.
“Schools have more to consider than just football and need to figure out how this might fit into their plans, but I sincerely hope they take a close look at this and decide that now is the time to take the plunge and get into organized football,” he said. “Based on our nine years (and counting) experience with Aroostook Football, we are pretty sure that a lot of students who never will play soccer are going to benefit from a decision to move forward with eight-man football programs here in the County.
Wyckoff added the Aroostook Football League is eager to assist the schools any way they can.
The MPA football committee will meet early next year to discuss the results of the survey, as they could have an impact on the ongoing reclassification effort for the existing 11-man football classes — particularly if several of those schools express interest in shifting to an eight-man division.
The MPA currently sanctions 76 11-man football programs statewide.
