Knights to forfeit Saturday's home game with Big Sandy

Heading into the start of the 2018 Six-Man football season, it was obvious, the North Star Knights were down in numbers. But, the Knights started the season off with a win over Heart Butte last Saturday.

Now however, due to injuries, and things beyond head coach Shawn Rettig's control, the Knights will not be able to play their second game of the 2018 season.

Wednesday, North Star Activities Director Brian Campbell announced the Knights would be forfeiting their Six-Man North Division rivalry game with the Big Sandy Pioneers, which was set for this Saturday afternoon. The game was to be played in Rudyard.

"Due to inadequate participation numbers to safely put a team on the field, North Star will be forfeiting its Six-Man high school football game this Saturday versus the Big Sandy Pioneers," Campbell said in a statement.

North Star is just the latest Montana football team to deal with low numbers in sports, particularly football. Just one year after winning the Class C state championship, Hot Springs didn't field a varsity team last year. But the issue isn't just at the rural level in Montana. Recently, Class AA Missoula Hellgate had a slew of forfeits, and missed an entire varsity season due to low participation numbers on the gridiron.

Still, this is the first such issue for North Star, which went 4-6 in the North Division last year, and has been a perennial playoff contender, and the first for an area school since Fort Benton missed one varsity of football season due to low numbers just three years ago.

On team picture day, less than two weeks ago, the Knights had eight players dressed out for practice. North Star, though, was able to compete on opening day, and the Knights routed the Heart Butte Warriors 44-17. And while North Star won't be able to compete this Saturday against Big Sandy, Campbell hopes the Knights will be back on the field soon.

"North Star has a bye during the September 8-9 weekend. The team is hoping to resume play after the bye with the resolution of some of their current injuries," Campbell said.

The Knights are scheduled toy play Sunburst at home on Sept. 15.