Just two weeks ahead of the official start of high school football practice in Georgia, Memorial Day School has made the difficult decision to pause its football program for the 2025 season.On the eve of what would have been the Matadors’ 50th season in school history, the program is stepping back due to a lack of player participation. According to athletics director Andrea Bagnall, only one student — a rising senior — expressed interest in suiting up for the fall.“Basically, it was not having enough kids,” Bagnall said. “We just don’t have the interest. We had nine players to play an eight-man football game. We did not put the safety of our players where I wanted it to be, and so I told the parents ‘I won’t do that again.’”Memorial Day has a storied football past, winning six state championships since 2008. Longtime Savannah football coach Michael Thompson led the then-Blue Thunder to all six titles, and finished with double digit wins six times.However, the program struggled in recent years and hasn’t posted a winning season since 2018. During their lone season of 8-man football in 2024, Memorial finished with a 2-7 record and a point differential of -178. Despite having a new head coach, updated uniforms, and a strong home venue, the Matadors will not field a team in 2025.While football pauses, other sports at the school are thriving. The Lady Matadors basketball program is one of the top teams in the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA), with four players expected to compete at the collegiate level.”We have cross country, tennis, and golf. Our basketball programs are going to be amazing this year. We’re really focusing on things we can control and we can make better,” Bagnall said.To help rebuild football interest, Bagnall says the school is turning its focus to flag football at the middle school level — hoping to create a safer, more engaging entry point for young athletes.“Flag football will be our next step,” she said. “It gives them an idea of how to play the game, how to prepare. Hopefully it gets us going in the right direction.”

SAVANNAH, Ga. —

Just two weeks ahead of the official start of high school football practice in Georgia, Memorial Day School has made the difficult decision to pause its football program for the 2025 season.

On the eve of what would have been the Matadors’ 50th season in school history, the program is stepping back due to a lack of player participation. According to athletics director Andrea Bagnall, only one student — a rising senior — expressed interest in suiting up for the fall.

“Basically, it was not having enough kids,” Bagnall said. “We just don’t have the interest. We had nine players to play an eight-man football game. We did not put the safety of our players where I wanted it to be, and so I told the parents ‘I won’t do that again.’”

Memorial Day has a storied football past, winning six state championships since 2008. Longtime Savannah football coach Michael Thompson led the then-Blue Thunder to all six titles, and finished with double digit wins six times.

However, the program struggled in recent years and hasn’t posted a winning season since 2018. During their lone season of 8-man football in 2024, Memorial finished with a 2-7 record and a point differential of -178.

Despite having a new head coach, updated uniforms, and a strong home venue, the Matadors will not field a team in 2025.

While football pauses, other sports at the school are thriving. The Lady Matadors basketball program is one of the top teams in the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA), with four players expected to compete at the collegiate level.

“We have cross country, tennis, and golf. Our basketball programs are going to be amazing this year. We’re really focusing on things we can control and we can make better,” Bagnall said.

To help rebuild football interest, Bagnall says the school is turning its focus to flag football at the middle school level — hoping to create a safer, more engaging entry point for young athletes.

“Flag football will be our next step,” she said. “It gives them an idea of how to play the game, how to prepare. Hopefully it gets us going in the right direction.”