The most consistent thing about 8-man football is change.
Student enrollment numbers go up and down, with public schools affected more and more by the opening of private and charter schools.
Still, there are enough teams in the San Diego Section to provide 8-man competition on the 40-yard-wide fields for two leagues this season.
Forming the six-team League will be Borrego Springs, Julian, San Pasqual Academy, St. Joseph Academy, Victory Christian and Warner. The Ocean League also consists of six teams, including Calvin Christian, Coastal Academy, Ocean View Christian, Rock Academy, San Diego Jewish Academy and Horizon Prep.
The 8-man season kicked off Aug. 20 with a pair of games.
The season resumes this weekend with five games, including four Friday afternoon contests: Rock Academy at San Diego Jewish Academy, Victory Christian Academy at North Valley Military Institute, Cal Lutheran at Warner, and Calvin Christian at San Pasqual Academy. Horizon Prep visits Borrego Springs on Saturday night.
Most of the 8-man schools were unable to field teams for the 2021 spring season due to the pandemic, but they are returning to the field, some with increased numbers.
“We took last year off and are returning this year with the highest turnout in over 10 years,” said Warner coach Ricardo Lara. “We’ll have 23 players this year with six seniors. And we’re starting off fresh with a lot of first-time players.”
San Diego Jewish Academy was able to play three games in the abbreviated spring season after going 8-1 in 2019, a season which included a 5-0 league record and the Ocean League championship.
“By all accounts, the 8-man season will proceed as normal,” said SDJA coach Justin McKenzie. “Our turnout is actually up (31 players). We’ve had a nice influence of freshmen to go along with our junior and senior classes.”
Tim White has been coaching at Borrego Springs since 2016, winning a Citrus League championship in 2018 with a 9-2 season which included an unbeaten 6-0 league campaign. The Rams were 3-5 in 2019.
“The teams that had a chance to play a spring season will have an upper hand this season,” said White, whose team practices have been hampered by sizzling temperatures approaching 120 degrees. “Despite it being super hot, we’ve had a great turnout with 21 on the roster and another four to five expected when school starts on the 30th.”
San Pasqual Academy will field a team again this season despite a possible school closure looming after the 2021-22 school year.
“Unfortunately, due to the decisions made by the county and state, we’re limited in numbers of students and participants on campus,” said Dragons coach Andrew Serrano. “However, it hasn’t altered our philosophy of putting together a competitive, hard-working, dedicated football team on the field this season. We have a strong core of returning players and some that have never put a helmet on, so the balance has been interesting.”
Ocean View Christian had the most success in the spring season, going 4-0 under coach Ronald Loewenthal. Coastal Academy is among the newcomers to 8-man football and will field a team for the first time under coach Stephen Patton.
Among the schools not competing this season after recently fielding 8-man teams are Calvary Christian and West Shores.
“Numbers at our school are low, and not enough students are interested in football,” said West Shores athletic director Luis Martinez.
Players to Watch
Borrego Springs: Even Padilla (RB/DB), Cesar Ochoa (QB/DB), Daniel Arias (TE/DE), Moses Garcia (OL/DL)
San Pasqual Academy: Mario Rader (OL), Ramon Ochoa (RB)
St. Joseph Academy: Brady Cutler (TE-DT), Noah Clow (RB/DT), Henry Weinpel (QB-DB)
Victory Christian: Tookie Davis (QB-LB), Isaiah Taberas (WR-DB), Josiah Fellows (TE-DE), Quintin Richardson (WR-DB)
Warner: Juan Reyes (WR-SS), Josh Velasquez (HB-FS), Ryan Christman (TE-DE), Gabriel Lazerus (QB-CB)
Calvin Christian: Collin Matthews (RB-LB), Henry Bacon (TE-DL)
Ocean View Christian: Cale Horton (WR-LB), Tony Valdez (RB-LB), Farrell Garcia (OL-DL), Josh Gonzalez (OL-DL)
Horizon Prep: Nate Dorsey (TE-LB), Reese Scully (RB-LB), Chase McGihon (WR-DB), Blake McGihon (QB)
Hoff is a freelance writer
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August 25, 2021 at 12:16PM
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Numbers surge for 8-man football - The San Diego Union-Tribune
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