Valley Christian excited for change to 8-man football

There's a big change coming to football for the Valley Christian football team. This year the team is playing 8-man football instead of 11-man, as several teams in the section decided to switch to 8-man football. On a roster of no more than 25 players the last three seasons, the switch makes sense for Valley Christian. The switch puts a little less pressure on the team to stay healthy and creates at most three less players having to play both offense and defense. "It's kind of exciting," said Doug Williams, Valley Christian's head coach on the switch to 8-man football. "Should things go well this year like they have the last two years for us, as we've gotten some bonus games; the pool for the playoffs is more balanced." In 8-man football, there are three less players per team on the field, which opens up the game. Instead of five offensive linemen, there are only three on the field. The offensive consists of three lineman, a quarterback and four skill positions. "The game should be more offensive; there are three less defenders to guard one less offensive player," Williams said. "I like it's going to be a higher scoring game; I think it's going to look like arena football. "Defense will be an interesting riddle; it will be more difficult. I think there will be more real estate on the field. Offensively, it will come down to execution. I don't know if you need to be as creative." One thing that Valley Christian is happy about, as is the remaining five league teams in Mira Loma, San Juan, Western Sierra, Foresthill and Encina, Woodland Christian is no longer in the league. "This year for the first year in a long time we won't know the league champion before the season starts," Williams said. "With Woodland Christian out of the league, there's a lot more parity."