MISSOULA — The Missoula County school board approved a plan for Hellgate High School to seek permission to put its varsity football program on a one-year hiatus due to a lack of players and allow interested students to try out for the team at one of the two other public high schools in the city.
The Hellgate football team went 0-10 this fall, including two games it forfeited due to a lack of players.
Principal Lisa Hendrix says the school has about 16 juniors and seniors interested in playing football next fall, not enough to field a varsity team.
The school would need approval from the Montana High School Association to form a cooperative with either Big Sky or Sentinel for varsity, while continuing to field junior varsity and freshman football teams.
The MHSA’s next meeting is Jan. 18.