Lewis and Clark Conference Reacts to Knox County’s 8-Man Football Move

Last week, the Knox County School District announced it was planning to shift to eight-man football in 2021. Knox County’s move marks the second Lewis and Clark conference school to make the jump to eight-man football after Schuyler County made the switch last November. Marceline superintendent Brian Sherrow is this year’s spokesperson for the conference, and he calls the Eagles move to eight-man football unfortunate.

The Lewis and Clark’s constitution states each school must offer the same sports, including 11-man football. Because they’re moving to eight-man football, Knox County faces the same repercussions Schuyler County has had for almost a year, and their future in the conference appears to be in doubt. Sherrow credits Knox County Superintendent Andy Turgeon for warning the conference the move for them could be on the horizon.

With multiple schools in the L&C having 25-to-30 football players per team, Sherrow was asked if the conference had considered an eight-man football conference in the future.

Sherrow anticipates significant progress will be made on Knox and Schuyler Counties future in the Lewis and Clark when the schools superintendents meet in October.