Arcola Moving To Eight-Man Football In 2027

The Arcola School Board voted unanimously at its meeting Wednesday night in favor of moving to eight-man football next year. Declining numbers on the roster in recent years have made it more difficult to field a conventional football team. The 2026 season saw the Purple Riders go 1-7 with one game that was forfeited because of low numbers. Arcola’s football program has won seven state championships in its rich history, the most recent one being in 2015. A new era for the Purple Riders will begin in 2027 as they transition to the eight-man configuration.