Eight-man wonders: For smaller schools like Cuyama Valley High School, there's more than one way to play football

If American football is a religion in the U.S., then it’s worshiped during the course of the entire weekend starting with high school games on Friday and culminaiting with NFL games on Sunday. 

For the most part, we see only one version of the game: with 11 players on the field. But there’s also a version with only eight players on the team. It’s called eight-man football and it’s played at Cuyama Valley High School (CVHS) in New Cuyama. 

Eight-man wonders: For smaller schools like Cuyama Valley High School, there's more than one way to play football
IMAGE COURTESY OF CUYAMA
VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Despite not getting as much attention as its 11-man counterpart, eight-man is a form of gridiron football that’s fairly common throughout the U.S. Many may read this and think, “no duh!” but high schools like CVHS have it because it allows students in smaller schools to participate in a football program, according to CVHS Bears football coach Charlie Bosma. 

From ninth through 12th grade, the entire student body at CVHS is made up of fewer than 70 kids. 

“We obviously don’t have enough kids to consistently field an 11-man program,” Bosma told the Sun. “Playing eight-man makes it more feasible to have a team here at this school size.” 

Eight-man football is an officially sanctioned sport by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). As of 2016, eight-man teams in the Southern CIF numbered 48, including one at Orcutt Academy. 

There may not be as many eight-man teams in California as there are 11-man, but according to a 2015 article by The San Diego Union-Tribune, it appears the team size is gaining in popularity throughout the state. 

Both eight-man and 11-man have virtually the same rules, but there are slight differences in how the game is played. For example, with 11-man, pass interference doesn’t apply until the ball is in the air. 

Instead of a 100-yard field, an 80-yard one is used instead, Bosma said. The field is also a little narrower, Bosma added. 

Also, certain zone defensive plays aren’t feasible in eight-man play, such as Cover 2 or Cover 3 options because there simply aren’t enough players for coverage. 

Instead, Bosma said Cover 1 (man-to-man coverage) or no-cover options are common in eight-man. 

Some may believe that points are scored more frequently in eight-man games. Bosma doesn’t think this is necessarily the case, although he has coached games where scores have exceeded more than 60 points. The scoring depends on the match-ups between players, Bosma said. 

Mismatches between teams make a game lopsided and disparities more obvious, Bosma said, adding that it can be hard to overcome a team with players with commanding physical sizes and athletic abilities.   

“Being that you are running a smaller roster, weaknesses are exploited more easily,” Bosma said. “If you can put a balanced team across the front, then obviously it’s a little easier to maintain your strength.” 

The eight-man team at CVHS participates in the Coast Valley League along with four other teams, including Valley Christian Academy, and Coast Union, Shandon, and Maricopa high schools. In the past 11 years, Bosma has led his team to at least seven league championships and an appearance in the state finals. This past season, the team had a record of 4-0 in the league and 7-2 overall, losing in the quarterfinals to Trona High School. 

“I feel like we have a pretty good eight-man team,” Bosma said. 

Sports highlights

• Coaches voted Allan Hancock College men’s soccer star Jorge Guzman to the All-Western State Conference First Team. The sophomore forward was one of five Bulldogs to receive postseason recognition. Freshmen Migel Gomez and Joseph Goryance were named to the Second Team, while Carlos Paredes and Federico Baldan, both sophomores, earned honorable mention. 

Guzman led the Bulldogs and finished second in the conference with 11 goals, the most by a Hancock player in six years. Guzman scored two goals in a game twice this season. The Righetti High School graduate finished his Hancock career with 17 career goals and five assists. 

Gomez, a Cabrillo High School graduate, ranked ninth in California with 11 assists. The freshman forward scored 10 times, including three game-winning goals for the Bulldogs. Goryance, a freshman, helped anchor the Hancock defense. 

Both Paredes and Baldan finished the season on high notes. Baldan scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over L.A. Mission in the final match of the season. The Nipomo High School graduate had two goals and two assists this season, and three goals in his Bulldogs career. Paredes scored three times this season, including twice in the team’s 4-1 win over Moorpark. The Pioneer Valley High School graduate ended his Hancock career with four goals and one assists. 

Hancock won two of its final three games of the season to finish 5-14-2 overall and 3-7 in conference action.  

• Four Righetti student athletes will take their athletic and academic promise to the next level after they accepted offers to colleges and universities on Nov. 9 and 14.

Matt Sauer, Zach Anderson, and Danita Estorga recently signed letters of intent, according to Athletic Director Kevin Barbarick. Sauer is headed to University of Arizona to play baseball, Anderson will travel to Bethel College to also play baseball, and Estorga will join the Biola University basketball team, Barbarick added.

Delanie Wisz also signed her national letter of intent to the Loyola Marymount University softball team.

Warrior head baseball coach and math teacher Brian Tomooka said it has been a pleasure to have Sauer and Anderson in the baseball program.

“Matt has been a four-year varsity baseball player for our program,” Tomooka said in a press release. “Obviously, Matt has proven that he can pitch, hit, and play the game at a high level, but he has meant a whole lot more to the Righetti High School baseball program. He is a true competitor, a team leader, and his loyalty, and commitment to the Righetti High School baseball program ranks up there amongst the best that I have ever coached.”

Tomooka added, “Zach has been a two-year varsity player for our program. Zach earned the starting catching position last year and did an outstanding job for us both defensively and offensively. From the beginning of last season, to this point, Zach has made one of the biggest improvements that I have ever seen in a player.”

Girls varsity basketball coach and teacher Desiree Domingues said in a press release, “Danita has been a pleasure to coach” and has a “bright future ahead of her.”

“Danita is such a well-rounded student athlete,” Domingues said. “I am so ecstatic that she has chosen to attend Biola University and I think it will be a great fit for her. Danita has an exceptional work ethic, leadership skills, and the ability to play all five positions on the court at any given time. In addition to basketball, Danita has excelled in academics, singing, and leadership at Righetti High School. She will be a huge asset to the university.”

Softball coach Mike Roberson also had a good reason to celebrate when Wisz sealed the deal with Loyola.

“I’m very proud of Delanie,” Roberson said in the press release. “She is a three-year varsity player for our program. Not only a great offensive player, but great defensively as well. Delanie is a great team leader and works very hard to be the best she can be. Besides all the work on the field, the most important thing is that she is a scholar athlete. I know she will be a great fit for Loyola Marymount and look forward to her future.” 

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