Multiple smaller schools in Central illinois team up in football to boost up roster numbers
In January, Sullivan ended a decades long partnership with Okaw Valley, in part, because the latter had low participation numbers, said the school.
“It was disappointing, disheartening to us. We really wanted to continue that relationship on our side,” said Brooks Inman, Okaw Valley’s Athletic Director.
Okaw Valley has a tradition of football, dating back to the early 1900s.
With the deadline passed for 8 man football and wanting to play 11 on 11, they had to find another school for a 2025 campaign.
Linebacker Jett Smith said, “I was pretty disappointed. I didn’t think I’d have a junior senior year football.”
Recently, Okaw Valley finalized a deal with Central A&M, which is just 20 minutes west, to partner up for football.
Up to 15 Okaw Valley players will their football careers alive.
Inman said, “With with the growing number of eight man teams, we want to continue that 11 man football as long as we can and going to a rich tradition program like Central A and M, our kids are excited. Our community is really excited for our kids as well.”
The agreement is for two years, but they hope longer. And it’s just for football.
So on the gridiron, Okaw Valley and Central A&M are friends. For other sports, not so much!
“We still play them in basketball and baseball and close team, so it’s still a little bit of a rivalry. So it’ll be interesting. It’ll be exciting,” said Braden Montgomery, an Okaw Valley football player.
Central Illinois is coming off a 5-5 campaign and a playoff appearance.
And the players from Okaw Valley are coming off a 10-1 season.
Inman told me the team has a long of young and talented players, and should be an exciting future.