Central Illinois residents will remember last summer when Clinton and Decatur St. Teresa High Schools were scrambling for early season opponents thanks to the rise in popularity of 8-man football.

Now a Piatt County district is on the ropes looking for a game and is leaving no stone unturned. Monticello Athletic Director Dan Sheehan indicates Champaign St. Thomas More recently decided to go to 8-man football leaving three Illini Prairie Conference schools in a bind scrambling for a ninth football opponent.

According to Sheehan, it's not an easy situation for schools who make the decision that is best for them ultimately hurt the opponents on their schedule. He says right now they are reaching far and wide for an opponent.

Sheehan is not limiting his search to Illinois schools. He has feelers out right now in Wisconsin, Kentucky, Indiana, and Iowa and says it would not be ideal to simply take a forfeit for their open week.

Monticello's 2020 football schedule opens with home games against Olympia and IVC. The Sages will play five home games next season.