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WINDHAM, Ohio – Windham High School will transition to 8-man football beginning with the 2026 season, joining the Northern 8 Football Conference that has become a lifeline for small-school programs across Ohio.
The Bombers will become the 10th member of the conference, which was founded in 2020 and is sponsored by the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association. The league currently includes Cardinal Stritch, Southington Chalker, Danbury, Holgate, Kennedy Catholic, St. Mary Central Catholic, St. Joseph Central Catholic, Sebring McKinley and Stryker.
The decision comes as Windham grapples with declining participation numbers that have hampered the program in recent years. Head coach Jake Eye, now in his seventh season leading the Bombers, cited enrollment concerns as the primary factor behind the move.
Male enrollment at the school has dropped significantly, with just over 50 boys across grades nine through 12. Roughly half of that enrollment currently plays football. The 2024 roster featured approximately 27 players, making depth and injuries constant concerns throughout the season.
The Bombers finished 10-2 this past season, reaching the playoffs before falling to Hillsdale 43-14 in the first round. Prior to this year’s success, Windham had struggled to maintain winning records, posting a 2-8 mark in 2023 and failing to reach a winning season since back-to-back nine-win campaigns in 2017 and 2018.
Eight-man football has grown rapidly in Ohio since the Northern 8 Conference launched. The format allows schools with smaller rosters to field competitive teams rather than forfeit seasons or combine programs. Ohio held its first OHSFCA-sponsored 8-man state championship game in November 2024, with St. Mary Central Catholic defeating Southington Chalker 34-20 at Leetonia High School. WKBN-TV televised the historic contest as part of their Game of the Week coverage.
The conference has actively recruited new members as more schools face enrollment challenges. Kennedy Catholic in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, announced in January 2025 that it would transition to 8-man football due to insufficient player numbers, though it will not officially join the league until 2026. Cardinal Stritch in Oregon, Ohio, rejoined the Northern 8 in April 2025 after canceling two of its previous three seasons due to low participation.
Windham is located at 9530 Bauer Ave. in Portage County. The school competes in the Northeastern Athletic Conference for other sports and will remain a member for those programs.
Any Ohio high school with an enrollment of 160 boys or fewer is eligible to participate in 8-man football. The format features a smaller playing field and reduced roster requirements while maintaining the fundamental elements of the game.
The Northern 8 Conference commissioner Lynn Groll expressed enthusiasm about the league’s continued expansion in a recent statement, saying the organization is confident 8-man football will continue growing throughout Ohio.
Source: Portage Sports
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