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. 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). 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 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.
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 SchoolLocationAffiliationEnrollmentMascotColorsJoinedPrimary ConferenceFlorenceFlorence, WIPublic121Bobcats 2022Northern LakesGillettGillett, WIPublic145Tigers 2026Marinette & OcontoLena/St. Thomas AquinasLena, WIPublic, Private (Catholic)163Titans 2026Marinette & OcontoNiagaraNiagara, WIPublic116Badgers 2022Marinette & OcontoPembine/GoodmanPembine, WIPublic73Patriots 2022Northern LakesSuringSuring, WIPublic103Eagles 2026Marinette & OcontoWausaukeeWausaukee, WIPublic114Rangers 2024Marinette & Oconto
Former members SchoolLocationAffiliationMascotColorsSeasonsPrimary ConferenceElcho/White LakeElcho, WIPublicWolverines 2022-2025Northern LakesThree Lakes/PhelpsThree Lakes, WIPublicBluejays 2022-2025Northern LakesWabeno/LaonaWabeno, WIPublicRebels 2022-2025Northern Lakes
Membership timeline
List of state champions Source: SchoolYearFlorence2023
List of conference champions SchoolQuantityYearsFlorence22022, 2023Wabeno/Laona12025Wausaukee12024Elcho/White Lake0Gillett0Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas0Niagara0Pembine/Goodman0Suring0Three Lakes/Phelps0 References