Chapel Hill High School will not field a varsity football team in 2018, joining a growing trend.

The Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools system announced the decision from Chapel Hill High School in a release on Monday night. The district attributed the move to “a low turnout of players, particularly at the upper grade levels.”

“As a former football coach, this decision was a hard one for us to make,” said Chapel Hill High athletic director Tim Bennett said in the release. “However, it is the right decision for our kids and program at this time.”

Chapel Hill High now joins Cedar Ridge, in the Orange County Schools district, in announcing it will not field a varsity team for the upcoming season, which is scheduled to begin on Friday.

East Chapel Hill High School did not play varsity football in 2017, choosing instead to focus on the junior varsity level in an attempt to garner support and interest from more players.

Chapel Hill High and Cedar Ridge are taking similar steps this year by exclusively fielding junior varsity teams.

Chapel Hill High officials said they expect to “offer a competitive varsity football program next year.”

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