Another former member of the old Tri-Rivers Conference has chosen the 8-man route for high school football for the foreseeable future, as Knox County, starting in 2021, will join the 8-man ranks in Missouri, with the decision agreed upon by the school board in Edina on Tuesday night. Low participation in recent years led to the decision.
Knox County, with the death of the Tri-Rivers in 2016, made the move to the Lewis and Clark Conference, providing instant stability in scheduling, with Schuyler County and Scotland County making the same move. The Tri-Rivers final spring in operation saw Putnam County and Milan choose to leave to join the expanding Grand River Conference, while North Shelby, citing low numbers, made the move to eight-man, with the Raiders, after some lean years, finding success, currently ranked #2 in the state behind Mound City.
Schuyler County’s move to eight-man, with the Rams beginning that this fall, also played a factor in Knox County’s decision, with the Eagles having a nearby school that would be an instant rival in eight-man scheduling, in addition to the aforementioned North Shelby.
At least for 2020, Schuyler County, playing an independent schedule in football, remains a full-fledged member of the Lewis and Clark Conference in other sports, including basketball, softball, and track and field, with Knox County hopeful that a similar arrangement will remain in place for them in future years.
