Athens and St. Philip plan co-op football program for 2026 season

Athens High School has announced a co-op football program with St. Philip High School for the 2026 season. This development comes after Athens had considered canceling its varsity football season due to low participation numbers. The high school board approved the co-op on August 17, with pending approval from the MHSAA expected today. The partnership allows athletes from both schools to play together in the 8-player division, improving team numbers and giving seniors an opportunity to compete this season. St. Philip, which had only 10 players, is expected to add six from Athens, increasing their total to 16. The first game is set for August 28 against Tekonsha.

• 1:39 AMYahoo Sports — Athens may still get the chance to play football. Find out how.