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WICHITA, Kansas ( KAKE ) -- High school football returns Monday with first official practices kicking off across the state. As teams gear up for the new season, Wichita Independent will be taking the field in a different way.

For the first time in the program's history, the Panthers will not be suiting up this fall, with low turnout at the high school level.

"During the spring, we were thinking about if we were going to have football or not," Wichita Independent athletic director Tyler Keim said. "It was difficult for me because I enjoy football. I love Friday nights football games when it's nice and cold and chilly out and stuff like that."

"In this day and age, you need a core group of players, and if you don't have at least, well, really, most

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