With just 17 players out for the entire program, the Titans have switched to 8-man football.
It wasn?t a lack of success. Lutheran had reached the state playoffs two out of three years since bringing back the football program in 2009.?We needed to look at the future,? new coach Rich Zeiger said. ?I thought this was a visionary move. This is a way to keep the football program despite the numbers being down. Hopefully if we have a little success with it it will start a trend in the area.?
Most of this year?s varsity team at Lutheran have played 8-man football at the lower levels.
Zeiger calls space the biggest advantage to 8-man football.
?On offense and on special teams, there?s a big space advantage,? Zeiger said. ?It seems like you?re always one man short of being solid on defense. Also when running an 8-man program, having a lot of big bulky, strong guys doesn?t help as much as having explosive speed. You can do better with soccer and cross country athletes instead of the power lifters.?
In 8-man football, five players are required on the offensive line and three of them are ineligible receivers. There is a state playoff for 8-man football.
Lutheran?s top returnees are Erik Thorson (5-10, 125), who plays quarterback and safety, Nick Miller (6-1, 165), a lineman, and Brant LaGrow, a running back and cornerback.
One other disadvantage for Lutheran is the fact it?s the only school in this area currently playing 8-man. So six of the Titan games will be played in Webberville.
Staff writer Jack Walkden:
jwalkden@sbtinfo.com
574-235-6231
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