St. Joseph, Mo. – Bishop LeBlond High School Athletic Director Michael Evans announced Friday that northwest Missouri’s only Catholic high school will compete in 8-man football during the 2019 season.

Evans said overall enrollment numbers and the number of students choosing to participate in football made the move necessary.  “Bishop LeBlond has never backed down from competing with any school of any size,” Evans said. “Given our current enrollment and the local and national decline of students choosing to play football, we determined it was in the best interest of our students to move to the 8-man level.”

Evans said the projected numbers for football next year, and having enrollment within the overall enrollment numbers set by MSHSAA (less than 200 students) to qualify for 8-man, the school has a great opportunity to continue a long tradition of Golden Eagle football.  He said the move came down to LeBlond being able to offer the sport, rather than having no football program at all.

“I commend our 2018 football players and coaches for fighting hard and representing us in a manner befitting our Golden Eagle tradition.” he said. “I know what we will be able to offer a more competitive and memorable experience for the entire Bishop LeBlond community in the future.  Our goal is to increase enrollment/participation and return to 11-man football as soon as the numbers allow us.  The transition back to 11-man competition will be easier if we go to 8-man than if we take a complete break from football.”

The move to 8-man football also means the LeBlond football team will be unable to compete in the Midland Empire Conference.  However, the Golden Eagles will continue to compete in the MEC in all other conference sponsored sports and activities.  On other LB sports will be affected by the changes for football, and the school will continue to be a member of the MEC.

Evans said he has been in contact with a number of 8-man programs to build a schedule for the fall.  Bishop LeBlond competed in Class 1 football during the 2018 season.

— Bishop LeBlond Press Release —