Pop Warner has done it, but would eliminating kickoffs in high school be a good move?

The youngest age groups in Pop Warner youth football are playing football without a kickoff this season. Teams start with the ball at the 35-yard line instead. The move was made to curb injuries, particularly concussions.

John Johnson, communications director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, told USA Today that eliminating kickoffs has been discussed, but the topic hasn’t come up in the N.C. High School Athletics Association, executive director Que Tucker said.

“It’s not been a topic of discussion and hasn’t been something that’s caught any traction here,” she said. “There hasn’t been serious discussion by our coaches or officials or even our sports advisory committee.”

Some coaches believe eliminating kickoffs, when players run full speed at each other before colliding, will limit injuries, which are rising. A study by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association of more than 900,000 medical claims across all sports showed concussion diagnoses rose 71 percent for patients ages 10-19 over a six-year period.

However, local high school players who spoke to the Observer say they oppose eliminating kickoffs.

“It gives explosive players time to make a play, and the kickoff is 11 players on 11, no one with an advantage,” said Mallard Creek linebacker Larry Matkins, a Colorado State recruit. “It’ll be safer (without kickoffs), but it’s taking the fun out of the game.

“The game has been played for a long time, and kickoffs have been here for a long time. That’s what makes football what it is.”

Said teammate T.J. Moore, a South Carolina recruit: “I think football’s football, you know? I like to hit people. I don’t think you should do that (eliminate kickoffs), actually.”

▪ A.J. Reed, a running back at Vanlue (Ohio), ran 59 times for 296 yards in a 30-26 win over Arcadia (Ohio) last week. Reed’s team ended a six-year winless streak in its conference and Reed recorded the most carries by a U.S. running back in 30 years.

▪ Down to just 11 players, North Stokes ended its varsity football season this week. The Vikings (0-6), who were outscored by an average of more than 33 points this season, will forfeit their final five games but finish their junior varsity schedule. North Stokes, a Class 1A school in Danbury, was 6-6 last season but graduated 18 seniors and returned nine players.

▪ Lincolnton wide receiver Sage Surratt is No. 4 all-time in North Carolina in receiving yards, but he’s also a good defender. After transferring to Lincolnton this year, he was asked to play outside linebacker. Surratt, who is 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, is averaging 13 tackles and has four interceptions. He had 20 tackles against South Point last month, Gibson said.

▪ Sun Valley quarterback Sam Howell threw for a Union County-record six touchdowns in last week’s 63-10 win over Forest Hills. He completed 10 of 16 passes for 183 yards. ...Charlotte Latin quarterback Bates Jones has committed to Davidson to play basketball.

This story was originally published September 29, 2016 at 6:30 PM with the headline "Pop Warner has done it, but would eliminating kickoffs in high school be a good move?."