The Pop Warner football model fails at the older brackets. There are too many 7th/8th graders who are too big for JM and M.

Our shcool district has middle school football which is no weight limit. Age limits do apply, but they are structured that a 1x holdback could play. (a 2x holback would be ineligible to play in 8th grade)

The O-Line at our middle school average 180 lbs and none were holdbacks. None were terribly overweight either. Boys hit puberty at different times.