THORNDIKE — Change is on the horizon for the Mount View varsity football program and it appears the Mustangs will likely be following the lead of other schools around the state, including nearby Camden Hills, in shifting to playing in the new eight-man football classification. 

The classification allows for eight players per team on the field instead of the traditional 11 players per team and celebrated its inaugural season in the state in 2019.

It was formed by the Maine Principals’ Association, the state’s governing body for high school athletics to provide a new avenue for football programs in the state that struggle to field 11-man football teams due to low participation numbers. 

Presently, the Mustangs have a committed amount of players to support fielding a team to play in the eight-man classification, but not in the 11-man classification, according to Mount View athletic director Thomas Lynch. 

If the Mustangs were to not move to the eight-man classification, Lynch noted the alternative would, at this time, probably mean not offering the sport in the 2020 season. 

“We still have students who really want to continue playing and I believe 8 man gives them the best chance to be competitive,” said Lynch in a Jan. 5 email. “The students we have returning next year and the coaching staff have told me they believe 8 man football is the most viable option for Mount View.” 

The classification boasted 10 programs during the 2019 season across two divisions, a large and small school division. 

The large school division, for schools with more than 350 students, included Ellsworth, Mount Ararat, Yarmouth, Gray-New Gloucester and Maranacook. 

The small school division, for schools with 350 or less students, included Boothbay, Old Orchard Beach, Sacopee Valley, Telstar and Traip. 

Mount View is not the only school seeking to join the eight-man classification for the 2020 season.

In fact, they are joined locally by Camden Hills, who the Penobscot Bay Pilot recently learned has asked the state association to join the eight-man ranks. 

Mount Desert Island announced in mid-December they would like to join eight-man football, according to the Mount Desert Islander.

Dirigo and Spruce Mountain also hope to join the new classification, according to the Portland Press Herald. 

The administration at Waterville announced on its Facebook page last month they are in the midst of discussions about a possible switch to eight-man football. 

There are rumored to be other programs, such as Morse and Lake Region, eyeing a switch to eight-man football, but the Portland Press Herald could not get confirmation on if either of those programs are hoping to make the switch. 

If the divisional guidelines remain the same, Mount View (374 students) would be placed into the large school division as the Thorndike school has more than 350 students, according to a school population report provided by the MPA. 

Reach George Harvey and the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.