TOLEDO, Ohio — Not too long ago, high schools had to forfeit their season if they couldn't field a football team. That dilemma does still exist in Ohio, but it has been mediated with the help of eight-man football.
The Northern 8 Conference, based out of Napoleon, has provided a source for even the smallest of schools to continue their Friday Night Lights. Last year, the conference held its first playoff to help generate excitement for communities and teams.
On Tuesday, the landscape of eight-man football in Ohio was elevated even further when the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association announced it will host an eight-man state championship in 2023.
"We've been working with the coaches association, really since February, to get this going," Toledo Christian Head Coach Andrew Skeels said.
Following a vote in April and guidance from the Eagles' leader, the postseason tournament has been created.
"We're getting real close to the OHSAA sponsoring it," Skeels said. "This was the next step in the process."
Details of where the championship game will be held and the format of playoffs are to be determined. As it stands right now, there are only five teams in Ohio playing eight-man football: Danbury, Holgate, St. Mary Central Catholic, Stryker and Toledo Christian, all of which compete in the N8.
Fort Wayne King's Crusaders, of Indiana, is also in the conference and would be a part of the postseason. Whether the 2023 playoffs will be made up of just those six programs or more remains to be seen.
"It provides an opportunity for schools on the cusp of going eight-man to make that jump," Skeels said.
Any Ohio high school with an enrollment of 160 boys or less is eligible to play eight-man football.
"I know for other places, like Holgate, it's revitalized a lot of their community support on Friday nights," Skeels said.
The Tigers won the inaugural Northern 8 Conference Championship last season, defeating Toledo Christian 34-27 in the title game.
Despite the loss, the Eagles have benefited immensely since making their switch from 11-man football. The number of kids wanting to play has remained steady and the condensed field makes for a more personable experience. And that can be said for all of the N8 programs.
When news broke that there would be a state championship to play for this upcoming season, Skeels couldn't wait to tell his team.
"We had practice today [on Tuesday] and I told them about it. They immediately had an extra kick in their step," Skeels said. "We've been working hard without it, but now it gives our players and communities an extra thing to work for."