Aurora cancels football game due to low team participation
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Aurora High School’s decision to cancel Friday’s varsity football game against Nevada because of low participation is adding to concerns about shrinking rosters at some high school programs.
Superintendent Ben Yocom said Aurora still plans to play the remainder of its schedule, beginning Sept. 25 at Monett.
The school has also promoted defensive coordinator Broc Wolfe to interim head coach.
Aurora is not alone. Springfield Central is going without a varsity football team for a second straight season because of low participation.
The concern has also surfaced in southeast Kansas.
Erie entered last season with only 15 players initially signed up, prompting discussion among school officials about whether the program could eventually need to move from 11-man to 8-man football.
Nationally, however, football participation is up.
NFHS data shows more than 1.04 million boys played 11-man football in 2025-26, an increase of 1.4% from the previous year.
That points to a more localized problem not a growing trend about injuries.
