Falls City High School Assistant Principal and Activities Director Gale Dunkhas has released a statement following a meeting Monday night to which parents of current and prospective 8^th - 11^th grade football players were invited. 

The meeting was to present information related to the state of the Falls City football program and gather input from the parents that would impact the decision to play 8-man or 11-man football in 2026 & 2027. Twenty-three players had a parent or parents attend the meeting.

The Tiger football program, like many around the state and around the nation, is facing low participation numbers and struggling with the decision on whether to drop down a level. Dropping down a level isn’t uncommon in the state – though it’s not anyone’s first choice either. Programs like Johnson County Central and Gibbon have made the decision to opt down a level and continue playing. For many, the opportunity to play outweighs the possibility of having to forfeit games – or worse, cancel seasons, as we saw with Oakland-Craig this year.

With a majority of the players next year being underclassmen, there are significant safety concerns if the Tigers remain in 11-man football. Continuing on the same path would also present the possibility of having to forfeit games should the Tigers see a large number of injuries like they did in 2025.  The decision on playing 8 or 11-man football centers on safety, player development and playoff eligibility.

8-man football is favored by most stakeholders for safety and increased junior varsity opportunities. This past season, Falls City had to cancel JV contests due to numbers and players lost to injury. This caused some players to only see the field a few times during the entire season. With no meaningful game experience to learn from, these players will be forced to step into Varsity roles in the coming years. While a drop to the 8-man level would increase the likelihood of JV contests, it would also render the Tigers ineligible for the playoffs for the next two seasons.

Parents at the meeting felt that coaching changes may have impacted morale and could affect future participation moving forward.  It was also stated that a coaching change could lead to some players returning to the team. However, those results, one way or another, have yet to be determined and a decision must be submitted to the NSAA by the end of November.

The Falls City School Board will receive a recommendation from administrators and will then make the final decision on which route to go. The decision will be based on the parents’ meeting along with a student survey. Long-term program goals are building a positive experience for athletes, increasing participation, and developing young players. 

If the decision is to play 8-man football, the school would be locked into that decision for the next two playing years (2026 & 2027). A return to 11-man football would be an option for the 2028 season and with that a return to playoff eligibility. It’s a tough decision that no one wants to make. The community is encouraged to focus on supporting the student athletes and recruiting more players regardless of the playing level or coach.

A final decision by the board will likely be made before the Thanksgiving holiday.