Updates - Included a quote from Kevin Dodson along with updating the fact that North Platte St. Pats had made the playoffs this year*
This past Wednesday was a big day for NSAA football teams. It was a day that they needed to declare what Class they wanted to play in for the following cycle.
Three area teams are dropping down for this upcoming cycle, the most surprising of these teams is North Platte St. Pats who will play 8-man football starting next year. The Irish have spent the last 10 years "opting up" in order to stay playing 11-man football.
Also, dropping down are Brady who moves down from 8-man to play 6-man football, and Garden County who will also drop down to 6-man from 8-man.
For North Platte St. Pats this ends a long tradition of 11-man football. Which includes three state championships (1984, 1985, 2004) and one runner-up (1987). The Irish have also only missed the playoffs in one year (2007) since the turn of the century.
Head Coach Kevin Dodson had this to say on the decision:
"We are looking forward to the new challenges that come with playing 8-man football. We also are excited to renew some old SPVA rivalries from other area teams who changed to 8-man in previous years. As always we are committed to creating a competitive program and embrace this new change."