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After defying the odds to even take the field last season, the Grace Christian Academy eight-man football team will take to the gridiron once again in 2024. The key difference this season for the Cougars is their schedule. They went 5-3 last year, but played just five games against varsity opponents. They performed well in those game, going 3-2 and averaging 31.8 points per game. They also allowed 29.6 points per game, though most of those points came in their two losses, 58-0 to Calhoun County and 64-24 to Baker County. This year the Cougars will play nine game versus all varsity opponents. They will play in a ten team region and will face region foe Harvester Christian in their season opener. The Cougars are coming into this 2024 season with good experience. Evan Sigman was the only senior on the squad last year and the Cougars are returning quarterback and safety Owen Earnest as well as Preston Barnett, Cade Wells, Jaiden Blecher and leading wide receiver Dawson Worsley. All of those seniors played both ways last year. The Cougars will be looking specifically to returners Peyton Powell and Paxton Sapp to sure up the offensive and defensive line. One thing Grace Christian will have that they severely lacked last season is depth. Last year the Cougars eight-man football team featured just twelve players and almost every player had to play both ways like Earnest, who played both quarterback and safety. Now, after the conclusion of the summer, the Cougars have a 20-man roster, giving them a significant amount of depth for eight-man football and a much larger pool of players to develop. It’s significant progress for the team and shows a genuine excitement from the student body surrounding the program. The Cougars will start the season on August 16 when they face Harvester Christian in an away game. Their home opener will take place on August 30 against Memorial Day.

Article Written By William Huff