Fayetteville-Perry Local Schools will become the 11th football playing institution in the Southern Buckeye Academic and Athletic Conference in the fall of 2017.

The SBAAC’s Executive Board two weeks ago approved the addition of Fayetteville for football only. Blanchester is a member of the SBAAC.

“The Athletic Directors and Executive Board had extensive discussion on this unique arrangement to add your (Fayetteville) district for only one sport, and ultimately felt that it would be a good venture for all involved,” according to a letter sent by the SBAAC Executive Board President Matt Earley, who is superintendent of Williamsburg Local Schools.

Fayetteville is a member of the Southern Hills Conference for the remainder of its athletic teams.

With Fayetteville moving into the league, the SBAAC’s two division alignment will change for football only. Batavia will move up to the American Division (larger schools) while Fayetteville will join Blanchester, Bethel-Tate, Clermont Northeastern and Williamsburg in the National Division.

Fayetteville has fielded a varsity football team for five seasons. The best finish by the Rockets’ gridiron squad came in 2013. FHS was 7-2 that year and narrowly missed a berth in the OHSAA state football playoffs by finishing ninth in Div. VI Region 22. The top eight teams in each division advance to the post-season.

The SBAAC schedules crossover games between division schools, which will be discussed at the August meeting of the league athletic directors.

Fayetteville will have voting power in the SBAAC for matters involving football only, the letter stated.