BILLINGS, Mont. – A lack of players has forced Roberts football coach Jeff Bermes to cancel the school’s 6-man football season.

Bermes, who is also superintendent, says there were 16 players interested last spring, but he started camp with 11. After a couple of players were hurt and four others left the team, he was forced to cancel the season and pursue a junior varsity schedule.

But even that isn’t looking too good because the number of available players had dwindled to five by Tuesday morning.

Bermes said pursuing a co-op agreement would have taken too long and he doesn’t think the Montana High School Association has approved a midseason co-op.

Under MHSA rules, the decision to forfeit the full varsity schedule means Roberts may not be able to play a varsity schedule next year either, although the school could appeal that rule.

Roberts has posted a 66-16 record over the past eight years, advancing to the 6-man title game in 2004 and 2006, losing both times to Highwood.