After playing through low roster numbers for most of last season, the Legacy Christian Academy football team will try something new this fall.
The Warriors are set to compete as a six-man team this coming season, transitioning from the more common 11-man level. Legacy will form a new TAPPS six-man district with Houston Westbury, Pasadena First Baptist and Carrollton Prince of Peace — all of which dropped down from the 11-man ranks this offseason.
“It really came down to the safety of the kids and giving them the best experience,” Legacy head coach Mitchell Stephens said. “This allows us to focus and coach up the kids who really want to play football.”
Stephens started his first year at Legacy last season with just 18 players. That number progressively lowered as injuries began to pile up for the Warriors.
Legacy had limited linemen and even finished a game without any viable quarterback options. The Warriors were able to win two games but were forced to forfeit their playoff contest because of coronavirus precautions.
As Legacy dealt with the low numbers last season, the idea of transitioning to six-man football was already being discussed within the athletic department.
“We thought it would be harder to do because we were in the middle of an alignment year, but we went to TAPPS and they gave us the go-ahead,” Stephen said. “At first it was just us, but it helped that eventually we weren’t the only ones.”
Stephens said depending on participation, the Warriors could potentially move back to 11-man football in 2022.
For now, he’s doing everything possible to study up on the six-man game. Stephens has never coached six-man football and expects it will take some getting used to at first.
It’s a smaller field. Quarterbacks are not allowed to run. Offensive lineman are eligible receivers.
Stephens said multiple Legacy players have experience at the six-man level, having previously played at Orange Community Christian.
The Warriors will play a 10-game schedule this fall and will soon start summer workouts at the school.
“As with anything new, it’s taken a lot of selling, but everyone that I’ve talked to says six-man is a lot of fun,” Stephens said. “It’s still blocking and tackling and playing football, so we’re excited.”
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