Litchfield Senior High School in Illinois announced that it will not field a varsity football team for the 2026 season.
The decision follows a winless 2025 campaign in which the team finished 0‑9 in the South Central Conference, leaving the program with dwindling numbers of upperclassmen.
Rather than discontinue the sport entirely, administrators will keep a junior varsity squad to give younger players developmental experience, with the intention of restoring varsity competition in 2027.
A Season of Transition
Among those returning is Caleb Coulter, who emerged as a standout two‑way player last year. He threw for 168 yards and one touchdown while adding 389 rushing yards and five scores on the ground, and he contributed 38 tackles on defense.
The loss of several top tacklers from the 2025 roster has left only a handful of experienced seniors, including Lucas Paine and Cooper Martn, to guide the junior varsity effort.
Coaches have emphasized patience and long‑term growth, noting that the current cohort will shape the program’s future when varsity play resumes.
Community members remain supportive, hoping the hiatus will translate into a more competitive team when the varsity schedule returns in 2027.