Northeast 8-Player Football Conference

The Northeast 8-Player Football Conference is a high school football conference with members located in northeastern Wisconsin. It was formed in 2022 as the Northern Border Conference and is affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

History

The Northern Border Conference was founded in 2022 as part of a comprehensive realignment package spearheaded by the WIAA and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association.[1] Its original roster consisted of six programs who were previously part of the MONLPC Football Conference's eight-player division (Elcho/White Lake, Florence, Three Lakes/Phelps and Wabeno/Laona) and the Northwoods Football Conference (Niagara and Pembine/Goodman).[2][3] Niagara had previously partnered with Pembine and Goodman in the Northern Elite football co-operative, sponsoring eleven-player football until the 2021 season. For the 2024-2025 competition cycle, the conference expanded to seven schools with the addition of Wausaukee (formerly of the Across the Bay Conference). Faith Christian Academy in Wausau[4] was another planned addition to the conference but disbanded their football program before ever playing a game. The conference's current moniker was also adopted as part of the realignment.[5]

The 2026-2027 competition cycle will see three schools leaving the Northeast 8-Player Football Conference: Elcho/White Lake, Three Lakes/Phelps and Wabeno/Laona. All of the exiting members will be joining the Northwoods Football Conference's eight-player division. The four exiting schools will be replaced by three former members of the Across the Bay Conference (Gillett, Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas and Suring), who will also become crossover scheduling partners with the conference.

List of conference members

Current members

School Location Affiliation Enrollment Mascot Colors Joined Primary Conference
Florence Florence, WI Public 121[6] Bobcats       2022 Northern Lakes
Gillett Gillett, WI Public 145[7] Tigers       2026 Marinette & Oconto
Lena/
St. Thomas Aquinas		 Lena, WI Public, Private (Catholic) 163[8][9] Titans     2026 Marinette & Oconto
Niagara Niagara, WI Public 116[10] Badgers     2022 Marinette & Oconto
Pembine/
Goodman		 Pembine, WI Public 73[11][12] Patriots       2022 Northern Lakes
Suring Suring, WI Public 103[13] Eagles     2026 Marinette & Oconto
Wausaukee Wausaukee, WI Public 114[14] Rangers     2024 Marinette & Oconto

Former members

School Location Affiliation Mascot Colors Seasons Primary Conference
Elcho/
White Lake		 Elcho, WI Public Wolverines     2022-2025 Northern Lakes
Three Lakes/
Phelps		 Three Lakes, WI Public Bluejays     2022-2025 Northern Lakes
Wabeno/
Laona		 Wabeno, WI Public Rebels     2022-2025 Northern Lakes

Membership timeline

List of state champions

Source:[15]

School Year
Florence 2023

List of conference champions

School Quantity Years
Florence 2 2022, 2023
Wabeno/
Laona		 1 2025
Wausaukee 1 2024
Elcho/
White Lake		 0
Gillett 0
Lena/
St. Thomas Aquinas		 0
Niagara 0
Pembine/
Goodman		 0
Suring 0
Three Lakes/
Phelps		 0

References

  1. ↑ "WFCA/WIAA Football-Only Realignment Proposal" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  2. ↑ "WFCA Eight Player Conference Alignment" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "Proposed Football Only Conference Alignment - 8-Player" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "Faith Christian Academy (Wausau)". Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  5. ↑ "2024-25 Conference Realignment Plan – 8-Player Football" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  6. ↑ "Florence". WIAA School Database. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "Gillett". WIAA School Database. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Lena". WIAA School Database. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Saint Thomas Aquinas". WIAA School Database. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Niagara". WIAA School Database. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Pembine". WIAA School Database. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Goodman". WIAA School Database. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Suring". WIAA School Database. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Wausaukee". WIAA School Database. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Football Championship Games (thru 2025)" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
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