No football at Calvary Chapel this fall

After battling through low participation numbers and injuries last fall, Calvary Chapel athletic director Martha O’Kelley confirmed the school will not have a football team for the upcoming season.

“We just didn’t have enough members,” O’Kelley said. “We’re low in numbers, so were going to rebuild this year and come back stronger for next year.”

Calvary Chapel forfeited four games last season and finished 0-9 in the Division III Southern League.

In the five games they played, the Lions averaged 9.2 points per game, while allowing 41.8 points to opponents. Calvary Chapel also was shut out three times.

The Lions, who have gone 5-29 the last four seasons, started the 2015 season with 16 players, but lost several players each week to concussions and other various injuries.

O’Kelley said she didn’t want to put her kids at risk this season.

“I’m OK with the decision. It definitely was tough to make,” O’Kelley said. “But I’m confident in the decision. My main priority is the safety of these boys.”

O’Kelley estimated that only eight athletes showed up to play this season — one of them being her senior son, Christian.

“Last year kind of left a bad taste in their mouths,” O’Kelley said. “I didn’t want to put these kids in that position. As the athletic director, I had to make the decision not to have it. They all understood.”

Calvary Chapel hasn’t made the football playoffs since 2006.