About Us

The Jr. Falcons Football Club was formed on July 2006 at the direction of new Blair Oaks High School Football Coach, Brad Drehle. The very first meeting included Coach Drehle, Kenny Weith, Leo Ahlers, Paul Mudd, Matt Fifer, and Marlin Albertson. The Jr. Falcons was formed for the purpose of organizing 7th and 8th grade youth football within the Blair Oaks, Cole County R-II School District boundaries.  Participants included boys from the Blair Oaks public school district, as well as the three parochial schools within the boundaries of the Blair Oaks School District boundaries including: St. Stanislaus; St. Francis; and St. Thomas. During the early years, 10 to 20 percent of the kids who participated in the program attended school in one of the three districts parochial schools.

The  2006 season consisted of one team made up of 38 total 7th and 8th kids from  all four schools.  The team was coached by head coach, Shane Verslues and  assistants,  Jason Verslues, Marlan Albertson, Matt Luadzer, and Bryce Hickman.   The  Falcons  played  a  10 game schedule against three separate Helias  teams  and  the  relatively  new Harrisburg Football Club.  The Jr. Falcons  also  enjoyed their inaugural season played in the newly completed Falcon Athletic Complex.

On  July  27,  2007,  a  Board of Directors was formed to better manage the organization,  and  the  club  was  incorporated  in the State of Missouri.  Later  that  year,  on November 16, 2007, the club was established as a 501 (c)(3), non-profit amateur athletic organization and became the Jr. Falcons Football and Cheer Club.  The initial board of directors consisted of: Paul Mudd,  President  and  Secretary;  Greg  Kemna, Vice President; Leo Ahlers, Treasurer;  and board members Kenny Weith; Randy Lock; Paul Lackman; Dannel Roberts; and Jason Verslues.

In  2007  the club began to expand, offering 5th and 6th grade football, as well  as  cheerleading.   The  club  grew  over 200% in 2007 to include 101 football  players  and  25  cheerleaders.  The 7th and 8th grade joined the Columbia  Youth  Football  League  while the newly formed 5th and 6th grade teams  joined  the well establish North Central Youth Football League based out  of  Moberly,  Missouri.   The  7th  and 8th grade teams saw tremendous success in the CYFL going undefeated during their first year in the league.

In  2008,  the  organization grew an additional 12%.  The 7th and 8th grade teams  continued  their  affiliation with the Columbia Youth Football Club, and the 5th and 6th grade teams continued their affiliation with the NCYFL.

In  2009  the  Jr  Falcons  grew  another 35% to include 115 players and 55 cheerleaders.   To  date this remains the highest level of participation of youth  over  the   Jr.  Falcons 11 year history.  That year the Jr. Falcons fielded  one  6th,  7th, and 8th grade teams, two 5th grade teams, and four cheerleading squads.

Following  the  2009  season,  Coach  Drehle  and  the  Jr Falcons Board of Directors  began to seek alternative league solutions.  Coach Drele and the board  members  contacted leagues in Kansas City and St. Louis, and visited with  Blair  Oaks  school administrators about the school picking up junior high  football.  The Columbia Youth Football League presented many concerns for  our  7th and 8th grade teams. During a meeting with CYFL board members following  the  2009 season, Jr Falcon's board members attempted to address some  league  safety  issues  such  as  playing  games  after  dusk without lighting,  playing  multiple  games  during  the  week days, and the use of untrained  officiating  crews.   During the 2009 season 27 of the 32 league games were played in Columbia.

In  February  2010, Coach Drehle and club president Paul Mudd made a formal presentation and bid to the members of 4-Rivers Youth Football League.  The presentation  included the clubs history, organizational makeup, equipment, facilities,  budget,  and  a formal request to join their league. In a very narrow  vote  that  followed  the presentation, the league members voted to accept  the Jr Falcons into the 4-Rivers League.  On March 14, 2010, the Jr Falcons Board of Directors unanimously voted to leave the CYFL and join the 4-Rivers  League.   The  2010 season also saw the beginning of paid 7th and 8th grade coaches.

Following  a  town hall meeting on March 12, 2012, the Jr. Falcons Board of Directors  voted  to expand to include 4th grade football. The newly formed 4th  grade  team  was  placed in the North Central Youth Football League as 4-Rivers  did  not  offer 4th grade football. The 4th grade team played two years  in the NCYFL before moving to it's current home with the other teams in the 4-Rivers League.

The  Jr.  Falcons  have  enjoyed tremendous success since it's inception in 2006.  It has won numerous league titles in the 4-Rivers League, and helped set  new  standards and expectations.  The clubs primary focus beginning in 2017,  is  player  retention  throughout  the league with more standardized playing time in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades.