Texas high school cancels football for two full seasons

September 24, 2026 - 04:03

Keene High School will not field a varsity football team for the next two seasons. The decision follows a difficult debut year in the University Interscholastic League, where the Chargers finished with a 1-3 record. The team will not complete its 2026 varsity season and will sit out the 2027 season entirely.

District officials pointed to low participation numbers as the main reason. With too few players to safely fill a roster, continuing the season would have put student athletes at risk. Coaches and administrators said the priority is player safety, not wins or losses.

The move affects students, families, and fans who had hoped to see the program grow. Keene ISD joined the UIL recently and expected a challenging transition. Instead, the school faces a longer pause than anyone planned.

For now, the district will focus on rebuilding interest at the middle school level and encouraging more students to come out for the sport. Whether football returns in 2028 depends on whether those numbers improve. Until then, Friday nights in Keene will look very different.