(8-13-25) Two Illinois 8-Man Football Association teams have announced that they will not be playing football this season.

Rockford Christian announced on Wednesday they do not have the numbers to safely field an 8-man team after having the same issue last season.

Rockford Christian’s athletic director Ted Lawver said in a statement-

“Although this was a very difficult and disappointing decision, our priority is and will always be the safety and well-being of our student-athletes. Rockford Christian athletics will continue to commit resources to rebuilding the football program from the ground up through investment in strength and conditioning and the pursuit of establishing a solid middle school (6-8) football program, with the goal of restoring the high school football program when the timing is right.”

The Royal Lions were set to compete in the 8-Player Northeast division against Peoria Heights (Aug. 29), Galva (Sept. 5), South Beloit (Sept. 12), Alden-Hebron (Sept. 19), Elgin Harvest-Westminster (Sept. 26), Christian Life (Oct. 3), Hiawatha (Oct. 11), Abundant Life (WI) (Oct. 17) and Milledgeville (Oct. 24). 

Schlarman on Tuesday also announced that it will not play football this season due to low numbers.

Schlarman athletics director Jerry O’Neill said in a press release-

“ Schlarman Academy will not be fielding a football team in the I8FA (Illinois 8-Man Football Association) for the 2021-22 school year.

With our lack of numbers, and for the safety of our student-athletes, we could not, in good faith, fulfill our obligations to the conference. Hopefully, we will have increased numbers going forward. We are sorry for any inconveniences this may have on our 8-man football conference schools.”

The team was set to compete in the 8-Player East division against Milford (Aug. 30), Peoria Heights (Sept. 6), Farmer City Blue Ridge (Sept. 12), St. Anne (Sept. 20), Hiawatha (Oct. 4), Christian Life (Oct. 10), Ashton-Franklin Center (Oct. 17) and Elgin Harvest-Westminster (Oct. 25). 

Rockford Christian Life, Elgin Harvest-Westminster and Hiawatha lose two games as all three had games against those two teams.

If the teams do not find a new opponent, it will count as a win via forfeit.