Sarasota Christian football team to switch to 11-man after playing 8-man its first 2 years
SARASOTA — After two seasons, the Sarasota Christian football team has decided that eight isn't enough.
For the first two years of their existence, the Blazers played in the eight-man division of the Sunshine State Athletic Association, but starting in the fall, Jacob Spenn's team will particiapte in SSAA's 11-man football.
In its first two years, Sarasota Christian finished a combined 15-8. Last season the Blazers ended 8-3, losing to Master's Academy in the state semifinals. The year before, their inaugural season, the Blazers went 7-5, this time losing to Master's in the title game.
"Next year will be filled with new teams, new challenges, and new uncertainty," Spenn said, "but it is right where we need to be as a program."
Going up?: Spenn on ground floor of Sarasota Christian football program
The Blazers will play a 10-game season. They open up on Aug. 16 at Old Plank Christian Academy, another program making the jump from 8- to 11-man football. The following Friday, Sarasota Christian has its home opener, hosting Bishop McLaughlin. Then it's at Bell Creek Academy, at Southwest Florida Christian Academy, home versus Cambridge Christian School, at the Out-of-Door Academy, home against Bradenton Christian, at Gateway Charter, home versus Keswick Christian, and following a bye week, the Blazers end their regular season Oct. 25 at All Saints Academy. The SSAA playoffs begin Nov. 1.
Spenn said he expects to have 50 players on the Blazer varsity, some flag-football players making the switch to tackle, and some others in the eighth grade.
"I am excited about the prospects," Spenn said. "We will still continue to have a JV team that plays 8-man which will result in everyone having opportunities to compete each week. We are looking forward to more blockers on the field and more guys on the sideline, and for the first time, we will take the field will experienced senior leadership, and it will all start with a kickoff."
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Buoyed by 2 years success playing 8-man football, Blazers to play 11-man
