News Summary Several high schools in Iowa have canceled or paused their varsity football seasons due to low participation and safety concerns. Schools such as Lone Tree, Rockford, and Dunkerton have not started their seasons, while others like Siouxland Christian ended theirs early after just one game. Challenges like injury rates and insufficient player rosters have also led teams to reconsider their season viability, highlighting a growing issue within Iowa high school football programs. Iowa High School Football Season Canceled or Paused for Seven Schools Due to Low Participation and Safety Concerns Several high schools across Iowa have made the decision to cancel or pause their varsity football seasons this fall, citing low student participation numbers and safety issues as primary reasons. The affected schools include Lone Tree, Rockford, Dunkerton, Siouxland Christian, Remsen-St. Mary’s, Highland (Riverside), and Mormon Trail. Schools Cancelling Seasons Before Play Began Three schools—Lone Tree, Rockford, and Dunkerton—did not initiate their football seasons at all this year. These schools canceled their varsity schedules prior to any games being played. Official reasons cited involve insufficient roster sizes and concerns over student safety, preventing the teams from competing under proper oversight. Siouxland Christian’s Season Ends Early Following a Single Game Siouxland Christian’s football season was also canceled after their team participated in only one game. During that game, they faced a significant defeat, trailing 60-0 at halftime. The school’s superintendent stated that canceling the season was the “most responsible course of action” in light of the team’s low player numbers, which totaled 16 on the roster. The team has a record of 1-8 over the past two seasons, indicating ongoing challenges with participation. Limited Player Availability and Injuries Impact Other Schools Remsen-St. Mary’s, which is scheduled to crown the 2024 eight-player championship, has paused its season temporarily. Coming into the current year with an initial roster of 17 players—including three upperclassmen after losing ten seniors—the team faced challenges with injuries and forfeited two of its first three games. Coach Tim Osterman indicated that just 11 players remained available for the most recent game, leading to the team’s decision to pause activities and assess whether conditions would improve to resume later in the season. Highland’s Coach Resigns Over Safety Concerns Highland’s football coach, Cory Quail, resigned and has been advocating for the cancellation of the season, citing safety issues. The team’s roster had dwindled to only 13 healthy players, raising concerns about continued play but not ruling out resumption pending further assessments. Additional Program Cancellations and Transitioning Decisions Mormon Trail and Remsen-St. Mary’s are also evaluating their season status, with possible plans to resume later in the fall. Schools are actively assessing remaining player numbers to determine the viability of continuing or restarting their football programs. Another Iowa school, Des Moines Hoover High School, will not field a varsity football team for the upcoming 2025 season due to ongoing low participation levels. Students from Hoover will have the opportunity to join the football program at Des Moines Roosevelt High School instead. The decision, based on concerns over safety and interest, follows recent struggles by Hoover’s program, which posted a combined 0-9 record over the past two seasons, often losing games by large margins. Additionally, the head coach at Hoover, Theo Evans, is moving into an assistant coaching role at Dallas Center-Grimes. Broader Context and Ongoing Efforts Across Iowa, schools are grappling with declining participation in high school football, driven partly by safety concerns and a lack of student interest. Schools are closely monitoring their roster numbers and safety conditions before deciding whether to continue or pause their seasons. Efforts are underway to assess if paused programs can resume later in the year, with some schools considering returning to play if circumstances improve. These developments underscore the challenges faced by Iowa high school football programs this season and highlight the need for ongoing evaluation to ensure student-athlete safety and program sustainability. Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic HERE Resources Virginia Beach Faces Severe Flooding and Power Outages Virginia Beach Police Department Enhances Crime-Fighting Technology Construction Industry Faces Labor Shortages and Rising Material Costs Norfolk Delays School Consolidation Vote Amid Opposition Aptos High School Cancels Classes Due to Power Outage Tragic School Shooting in Evergreen, Colorado Disappointment Over Homecoming Dance Cancellation Water Line Break Disrupts Westside Community Schools Kyrene School District Considers Potential Campus Closures Investigation Into Alleged Sexual Assault Involving Harford Tech Football Team 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
Author: STAFF HERE VIRGINIA BEACH WRITER
VIRGINIA BEACH STAFF WRITER The VIRGINIA BEACH STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HEREVirginiaBeach.com, your trusted source for actionable local news and information in Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach City, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with comprehensive coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—supported by years of expert reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates, while offering top reporting on high-profile events like the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, East Coast Surfing Championship, and military homecoming celebrations, alongside key organizations such as the Virginia Aquarium, Virginia Beach Convention Center, and Oceana Naval Air Station, plus leading businesses in tourism and defense like Busch Gardens and Northrop Grumman, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREWilliamsburg.com, providing credible, in-depth insights into Virginia's vibrant landscape. HERE Virginia Beach HERE Williamsburg
