Panthers return to football field

Football practice got underway for the teams across Mineral County last week. In Alberton, thirteen kids hit the field that will play for the Alberton Panthers this season. Coach Jake Giffin said that while the number of kids is good, he said it is lower.

"Thirteen is lower than it's been in past in the past couple of years," he said.

Despite the lower numbers for this year's season, Giffin said that the team isn't going to let one simple fact discourage them. This year, like St. Regis, they are changing their game from eight-man football down to six-man football.

"It's a really new game for us," Giffin said. "We spent the first couple of days of practice just trying to figure out the whole scheme of things, learning offensive and defensive runs."

Giffin said that while they've switched to a new style of play, he said that six-man football is very similar to eight-man football.

"It is similar to eight-man football," he said. "We can take a lot of the skills from eight-man that we've learned and still make them work for six-man. We just have two less guys on the field."

Six-man football is played on an 80 yard long by 40 yard wide field. Furthermore, the game specifies a 15-yard distance from the line of scrimmage to gain a first down, instead of the normal 10 yards.

With two less players on the field, the game is a little more wide open and every player is eligible, even the center is eligible for a pass.

Scoring is the same, with the exceptions being on the point after touchdown attempt and the field goal. A point-after kick is worth two points, while a conversion made by running or passing the ball is worth one point; this is the opposite of 11-man football. In addition, a field goal is worth four points instead of three.

Giffin said that the challenges come when trying to learn a whole new set of plays.

"The biggest challenge is that most of these kids have all the eight-man plays down, but now they have to learn a whole new set," Giffin said. "We have to learn to recognize when quarter back can advance down the field or if he can't because of the play."

Despite the new obstacles, Giffin said that the boys have "been doing a really good job."

Giffin said that goals for the season include to get better each day, in practice and throughout the season's games.

"Everything is based on being focused and having enthusiasm, but a bog focus is coming out and giving 110 percent every time and if they do that there are going to be rewards," Giffin said.

However, Giffin said that he also wants the kids to be excited about what they're doing and have fun this season.

The Panthers will play against the St. Regis Tigers for the first game of the season at St. Regis. Giffin said he believes it will be a good first game.

"It's their first year at six-man ball and so it will be fun to see where each team is at," Giffin said. "And anytime you play another school in Mineral County makes it pretty exciting."