Low numbers force traditional football power Starmont to forfeit Friday game

CEDAR RAPIDS — Eighteen years ago, the Starmont football team played in the Class 2A state championship game. Friday night, it is forfeiting its game at Lisbon because of low numbers.

'Basically, we started off with 22 students. We have six athletes out at this time, which takes us down to 16,' Starmont Superintendent Troy Heller said. 'We have some very young players, about four or five of those 16, that are just not ready for varsity play at this point in time. That is where the decision came from.'

This is reminiscent of Montezuma's decision to forfeit its game last week against Prairie City-Monroe, only more striking because of Starmont's football tradition. The Stars have made 15 playoff appearances, the last in 2013.

Its 1999 squad lost to West Lyon for the 2A title. Decreasing enrollment has the school in Class A now, though not nearly small enough to drop to 8-Player.

Starmont was 2-7 last season and lost its first two games this season: 21-7 to North Butler and 60-22 to Maquoketa Valley. Heller said the school is in a particular bind football wise at the moment because its junior class consists of only 10 boys.

Four of those 10 are on the team.

'We're going to have this year and possibly next year where we're going to have numbers problems,' he said. 'Then we'll be right back up again.'

The program literally is on a week-to-week basis. Starmont is scheduled to play next Friday at Postville, followed by a game at Alburnett.

Next season is a whole other story. This roster includes nine seniors, who, obviously, will graduate, theoretically meaning only 13 returning players and an incoming freshman class for 2018.

Heller was asked if it was possible the school would not have a varsity program next season.

'I don't think I want to comment on that at this point in time,' he said. 'Naturally, we're going to try and put a team out there because that's what we do. The tradition here at Starmont has been very strong, and the coaches are very strong with that and very good people. So I would think they will continue to look to get a team on the field next year.

'We're here for the kids. The coaches are here for the kids, the administrators are here for the kids. This has just been tough.'

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com