Holton High School Cancels Varsity Football Season

Holton, Michigan – In a notable turn of events, Holton Public Schools has announced the cancellation of all remaining varsity football conference games for the season. The decision was made public on Friday, September 13, via a post on Facebook, citing a “low number of varsity football players, ongoing injuries, and player safety” as the main reasons behind this tough choice.

The school district’s statement reflected concern for its players, stating, “This difficult decision was made after careful consideration and we know the impact this has on our players, coaches, families and community.” The goal moving forward is to protect player development, avoid injuries, and hopefully increase participation in the program.

Over the past three seasons, the Holton football program has faced dwindling numbers, which reached a critical point recently. Just days before the announcement, the school forfeited a game against Ravenna due to insufficient players. Several key athletes were sidelined due to injuries, leaving the Red Devils in a tough spot.

Holton head coach Tommy Moore, now in his third year with the team, remarked previously, “We were already a little bit on the younger side as far as our roster construction and had to pull up all of our sophomores from the JV level heading into Week 1.” With just 13 healthy players available, he expressed his reservations about pulling up even younger students, saying, “The last thing I want to do is throw our young kids to the wolves.”

Despite the cancellation of conference games, there are still two non-conference matchups on the schedule. Holton’s varsity team is set to play Atherton on September 27 and White Cloud on October 25. Because both these teams have combined junior varsity and varsity squads, Holton hopes to field a competitive team for these games.

In addition, the cancellation of the football season will also impact Homecoming Week, which has now been rescheduled for September 23-27, culminating in a homecoming dance on September 28. Other planned activities, such as a parade and the crowning of the Homecoming Court, will continue as usual, alongside the Powder Puff Football Game set for September 15.

As the community adjusts to this news, hopes remain high for the future of Holton’s football program, aiming for a stronger comeback in the upcoming seasons.