News Summary
Several Iowa high schools have canceled or paused their varsity football seasons due to low player participation and safety concerns. Affected teams include Lone Tree, Rockford, Dunkerton, and Siouxland Christian, which faced challenges in maintaining competitive rosters. Remsen-St. Mary’s, Highland, and Mormon Trail have paused their seasons, hoping to return later this fall. Additionally, Des Moines Hoover High School will not participate in the upcoming season, with students given the option to join Des Moines Roosevelt. These decisions highlight the rising concerns over student-athlete wellness and participation rates in the sport.
Des Moines, Iowa – The varsity football seasons for seven high schools across Iowa have been either canceled or paused this fall due to low participation rates and safety concerns. The affected schools are Lone Tree, Rockford, Dunkerton, Siouxland Christian, Remsen-St. Mary’s, Highland (Riverside), and Mormon Trail.
Lone Tree, Rockford, and Dunkerton made the decision to cancel their seasons entirely before their players could take to the field for any scheduled games. Siouxland Christian, which struggled to build a competitive roster, also canceled its season after participating in just one game, a matchup in which they trailed 60-0 at halftime.
The reigning eight-player champion, Remsen-St. Mary’s, along with Highland and Mormon Trail have opted to pause their seasons, leaving the door open for a potential resumption later this fall. These decisions were primarily influenced by concerns over the safety and health of student-athletes amid dwindling player counts.
Siouxland Christian’s decision to cancel was driven by a roster of only 16 players, leading to concerns about the ability to safely compete. The superintendent of Siouxland Christian noted that halting the season was deemed the most responsible option for safeguarding the health and well-being of the student-athletes involved. The team concluded the previous two seasons with a disappointing record of 1-8, which indicated ongoing struggles in maintaining a competitive squad.
Remsen-St. Mary’s player count dipped significantly this season, entering with only 17 players, of whom three were upperclassmen following the graduation of 10 seniors. The team faced additional setbacks due to injuries, resulting in two games being forfeited after losing their first two matches. The head coach from Remsen-St. Mary’s highlighted that only 11 players were available for their last game, prompting concerns over the team’s future viability.
Highland’s coaching staff is facing challenges as well; the head coach, Cory Quail, resigned to advocate for the team’s cancelation amidst ongoing safety issues, citing that the squad was down to just 13 healthy players. This decision reflects a broader trend within Iowa high school football, where concerns about player safety in small rosters are leading to cancellations or pauses.
Meanwhile, Des Moines Hoover High School has made the decision not to field a football team for the upcoming 2025 season, also a result of low participation rates. Students from Des Moines Hoover will have the opportunity to join the Des Moines Roosevelt football program. The principal at Hoover emphasized that the decision was carefully considered with the health and interest of the student-athletes in mind.
Hoover’s football program has faced difficulties in recent years, posting a record of 0-9 across the last two seasons. The team has struggled with a substantial average loss margin in its games. As part of the transition, head coach Theo Evans is moving to an assistant coaching role with the Dallas Center-Grimes coaching staff.
The situations unfolding in Iowa high school football serve as critical reminders of the importance of participant safety and the challenges programs face in sustaining viable teams. With many high schools assessing their player counts and safety protocols, the future of high school football in the state remains uncertain.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Norfolk School Board Delays Decision on Consolidation Plan
Aptos High School Cancels Classes Due to Power Outage
Northeast Ohio Welcomes Warm and Dry Weather
Shooting at Evergreen High School Leaves Two Injured
Investment Banker Mike Gibbons Passes Away at 73
Cleveland Launches Inaugural Tech Week to Boost Local Technology Ecosystem
Cleveland’s Unusual Dry and Cool September Weather
Frustration as Ribault High Homecoming Dance Canceled
Westside Community Schools to Resume Classes After Water Line Break
Investigation Launched into Harford Tech High School Football Team Allegations
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 CLEVELAND WRITER
CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER The CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HERECleveland.com, your premier source for actionable local news and information in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with in-depth coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—backed by years of expert reporting and robust community input, including local press releases and business updates, while providing top reporting on high-profile events like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, Cleveland International Film Festival, and holiday parades, alongside key organizations such as the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Orchestra, and Great Lakes Science Center, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare like Sherwin-Williams and University Hospitals, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREDayton.com, offering comprehensive, credible insights into Ohio's vibrant landscape. HERE Cleveland HERE Dayton
