Football in a small town goes in cycles and it can be a rollercoaster.
Look no further than Osceola for a perfect example of that.
In 2013, the Indians made it all the way to the Class 1 semifinals.
Just four years later, low numbers have necessitated a drop to 8-man football.
“It was a numbers thing. We have been talking about since basically last season was over. We had a large senior class last year of about 11,” Osceola head coach Paul Carney said. “It was the hardest decision we ever made because we love our conference and we love 11-man. We have had success at 11-man.”
Heading into the summer, Osceola was looking at a team with just four upperclassmen and six or seven sophomores returning. Numbers, safety and player development were all issues that forced the change.
“It was primarily a safety move and for development of our kids. We will be able to develop our kids in the football positions they need to be playing,” Carney said. “(In 11-man) a lot of running backs and receivers were going to have to play the line because we have no linemen. It just wasn’t good for anybody at this point.”
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Now Carney, who is a 26-year veteran of coaching 11-man football, has to coach a completely new style of play.
“It is amazing how much 8-man is one-on-one even more than you think. It is a lot of man-to-man defense. When teams run a play at you it comes down to one guy having to make a tackle,” Carney said. “It is a wide open game where speed is the biggest thing. I would say the biggest thing is to prepare our guys for open-field tackling and one-on-one type stuff and not real complicated on offense. It is simple blocking schemes and getting the ball to your guys who can run.”
Since summer camps, more kids have come out to give Osceola six seniors on this year’s roster.
Guy Thomas is a three-year starter on the line heading into his senior year. Fellow senior Holt Heckenlively will be another leader that has been through it all with the Osceola football program and Carney.
Garrett Dewitt and Zach Vaughn are two more seniors that will provide some help at skill positions.
Two more seniors are new to the program.
Cooper Anderson is playing football for the first time this year, but has been a staple of Osceola athletics in other sports.
Rylee White is a talented move in from Grandview that has Carney excited for what he brings to the program.
“We had a move-in that coaches dream about. I have had some good move-ins, but he is a total package-type kid. He is the real deal,” Carney said.
White will see time both on the line and in the backfield with linebacker as his primary position.
Justin Neale will be one of the lone juniors for the team.
The sophomore class is strong with Tyler Guerin (QB), Hunter Noakes (WR/LB), Marshal Whitham (RB/DB), Mitchell Wilson (WR), Donald White (OL/DL) and Gregoy Brouwer (OL/DL) all slated to play this year.
Osceola got its first real taste of 8-man when it went to a camp in Northeast Missouri this year.
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“The kids really liked it. We were able to sub and it just felt how football should be where you can play your position and sub,” Carney said.
That feeling of more natural substitutions and not having to worry about moving kids around to fill out an 11-man lineup made the switch to 8-man the right move for Osceola.
“It gets kind of old with no JV games and kids out of position, and you have kids quitting because of that. You have parents concerned (for safety). You just try to struggle through it and be tough,” Carney said. “I am all about that, but I think that is why 8-man was developed. It is three less people. It makes a big difference with only three linemen. It makes things work. The kids are having fun and have smiles on their faces. They are enjoying playing the game, and I am getting some interest back.”
Carney hopes that more area teams that are on the line between 11-man and 8-man look at success that Greenfield and Sacred Heart have had by dropping down to 8-man to reinvigorate interest and help with player development and consider the switch themselves.
“I think some schools need to do some serious talking. Our conference (WEMO) probably has four teams that could very easily be 8-man right now,” Carney said. “I think some schools (that have 20 or less players) need to get together and do 8-man. Let’s make this work for our kids where we can do JV and get better at football.”
The Indians won’t find out until September whether or not postseason play will be in the cards for them this year. Osceola has petitioned MSHSAA to be placed in a district mid-cycle.
Nothing is guaranteed, but 8-Man, District 4 would make a lot of sense for the Indians. It is currently the only five-team district with schools such as Greenfield and Sacred Heart that geographically fit. Putting Osceola in that district would make four six-team districts in the state for 8-man football.
While Osceola awaits this year’s postseason fate, Carney is focusing on developing his team and learning a new style of play.
“With a new team, new opponents, new schedule and a new style of play, we want to just see progression. We want to see development of players. I want to see players that improve and do things the right way to develop a program,” Carney said. “I would love it if we win. Everybody wants to win, but that is not our No. 1 priority right now. It is to get our football program back on the right track.”
Osceola plays the program’s first 8-man football game on Aug. 18 at home against Chilhowee.
