The teams kick off a new season this weekend, each made up of players from four different schools.
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"It's going to be awkward for sure," says Jonathan Guerrido, who attends Roosevelt High School. "But we've already gotten past that phase. Now we're trying to form a brotherhood."
The merger reflects the nationwide trend of declining participation in youth football because of concerns over concussions.
Last year, New York State began offering eight-man football in smaller school districts.
In Yonkers, programs with rich football histories like Gorton High School and Saunders Trades & Technical High School had to downsize to survive.
Coaches insist limiting contact in practice and teaching proper techniques can limit injuries.
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"It's going to take a few years to get the numbers back up but football is in a great state right now as far as safety," said Vic Chiappa, head coach of the Yonkers Brave.
The two new teams are called Force and Brave -- named after the city's police and fire departments.
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