Posen forced to switch to eight-man

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

In the interest of safety, Posen High School has been forced to go to the eight-man football format a year sooner than planned. Coaches decided last week, with a squad laden with underclassmen, it didn’t have the horses to stay with the traditional 11-player game any longer. According to head coach Wayne Karsten, the number of kids in camp fluctuated between 17 and 13. On Monday, there were 15 practicing in pads: three seniors, juniors, sophomores and six freshmen.

The spring sign up resulted in 24 students pledging to come out in early August, which would have been solid. The coaching staff had no idea how many would actually show up until the first day. It was a lot less than expected. KARSTEN GAVE an update at Monday’s board of education meeting and said the coaching staff is committed to keeping the season going. ?We looked at the kids we have and felt we can put a successful eight-man team on the field,? said Karsten. ?We want to run a partial schedule for those seniors who have put in all the time in the weight room during the summer.

?We are looking to make this a transition into next year when the state will offer eight-man football as a MHSAA (Michigan High School Athletic Association) sport,? he told the board. ?There are a handful of teams running full eight man schedules this season. We are looking at being one of the trend setters.? School officials had already given strong indications that they want to be a part of the eight-man format when the MHSAA officially sponsors it next season. That won’t be the case this year. There will be no playoff games for the Vikings in 2009. They went winless in 2008 and haven?t made the playoffs since 2004.

?WHEN WE put in the first (eight man) plays Monday, those kids? eyes lit up, like the first time they rode a bike,? said Karsten. ?If you see it, it?s basketball on grass. It?s the greatest show on turf.? The field in Posen already has been reconfigured, as it will be 40 yards from sideline to sideline. The length will stay at 100 yar

ds and 120 yards from goalpost to goalpost. Most of the venues of the new schedule have not been decided (as of Wednesday). ?As of now, I have seven games scheduled,? said Karsten. ?Cedarville is going to play us in week one. Nothing week two. Week three is Brimley, they are going to come down and play us. Week four is Ann Arbor Eastern Washtenaw Multicultural Academy. Week five is up in the air. Week six, we are playing the Ann Arbor school again. Week seven we are looking at picking up Michigan School for the Deaf out of Flint. Week eight is Owendale Gagetown.? The Ann Arbor games could be on a neutral site.

He said they are still talking with Arenac and Carsonville-Port Sanilac. Karsten has told the boys they?ll be history makers. ?I?ve told them they will be the first team in Posen history to play eight-man football. Nobody will be able to take that away from them.?