[Fly Like a Duck]

In my honest opinion as well, Soccer has greatly put a damper in many foootball programs across the state. Especially 1A Independent schools and/or Rural, "County" schools that lack in size, as well (let's say 3A or less).

Why? Those school(s) talent pools are already spread thin as is. 1A schools, it is what it is, especially your lower end 1A schools. And, with many of your rural/"county" schools, it's hard enough to get participation from boys who are further than lets say 6+ miles (or 10 minutes) from the school. Now you throw in soccer, and that dips into the small talent pool (usually in the area in or around the county seat) that some have to draw from as is.

Case in point above. Beechwood and Painstville. Both have great, longstanding traditions in football, yes? Well, in the last 10 years, one of them has kept on keeping on, while the other has fallen off dramatically. One of them has adopted soccer, the other hasn't. I'll let someone else fill in the blanks there.