6 Man Football

[17Bluebird]

I found out thru fourseasonsfootball that the following schools played 6 man football back in the 1950s.

Lee Davis
Goochland
Battlefield Park
Washington-Henry
Beaver dam
Luray
Stonewall Jackson Clearbrook
Strasburg
New Market
Stanley
Woodstock
Boyce
Berryville
Stephens City
Clark County

In sure there are more buts an interesting little piece of history in Virginia.

 

[Lynn Burke]

Several schools in SE Virginia also played 6-man: West Point, New Kent, Middlesex, King William, Tappahannock and Pleasant Hill, which no longer exists. Also Achilles and Botetourt, which combined in the 50s to form Gloucester. Interestingly, Mathews, which began football in the late 1940s while other area schools were playing 6-man, always played 11-man. Christchurch, the private school in Middlesex County, played 6-man for a while.

On the other side of the James River, there was a 6-man league in the Suffolk area with Whaleyville, Holland, Chuckatuck and Cypress, plus Boykins from Southampton County and Waverly from Sussex County. At one point, the remaining schools went to 8-man for a year, then went full into 11-man football.

 

[EPJr]

so what is this - no linemen?

 

[mmqp 4.0]

Quantico and St. Stephen's School also played 6 man for a while.

Natural Bridge played 6 man for a season or two.

Dunlap out of Alleghany County along with Fincastle, Eagle Rock and Colonial out of Botetourt County played both 6 man and 11 man at different times as well.

Millboro out of Bath County along with Effinger, Fairfield, Goshen and Brownsburg out of Rockbridge also played 6 man.


One of the more interesting things I found through researching old yearbooks was that William Campbell did not have a football team during their first few years as a school, but did have a soccer program. This would not normally be unusual, but soccer was anything but popular and common in the state of Virginia, let alone in that part of the state, in 1959.

 

[Researcher27]

6 and 8 man football are great sports. Pembroke of Giles County also played in the Southeastern WV 6 man football league from 1938 to 1952. It was mostly comprised of small schools from Monroe County, WV. Peterstown, Union, Greenville, and Gap Mills. None of which still exist today. There were also sometime members from Summers County, WV; Fayette County, WV; Greenbrier County, WV; and Allegheny County, VA. This league lasted 15 years and survived WWII. What it could not survive was the loss of longtime school Union leaving for 11 man in 1951 and the push to play 11 man football.

I am not aware of any 6 man leagues now but I am aware of 8-man all across the nation in the Great Plains regions. 8 man is big time in Oklahoma small towns. I have watched games there and it is well represented.

 

[otnorot]

Here is the Texas six-man championship from a few years ago. It is a very high scoring game. I believe the quarterback is not allowed to run the ball. IDK what the rules were in Virginia years ago though.

 

[mmqp 4.0]

I think you're right. IIRC the QB must stay behind the line of scrimmage as long as he has the ball. Which is why you see them almost always pitch the ball back to the running back. The RB is allowed to pass or run.

 

[Virginia HS Football Fan]

Awesome history lesson! Thanks for posting!

 

[mmqp 4.0]

I recall reading a few years back an article about 6 man in the state of Michigan. One of the problems they were seeing was schools with 300 kids enrolled were being allowed to drop to 6 man because of "low numbers" and then magically fielding teams with 30 kids on them while the schools that truly needed to play 6 man due to low enrollment were still fielding teams with 10 players. So there definitely needs to be some oversight and common sense used if the VHSL ever picks it up. There should only be a handful of schools that qualify if that many; Highland, perhaps Council(?). Schools with less than say 130 students enrolled. If schools with more want to play then fine, but should not be allowed to compete for a title. Otherwise half of 1A will end up joining for a chance at a title.

 

[kwhs95fan]

I recall reading a few years back an article about 6 man in the state of Michigan. One of the problems they were seeing was schools with 300 kids enrolled were being allowed to drop to 6 man because of "low numbers" and then magically fielding teams with 30 kids on them while the schools that truly needed to play 6 man due to low enrollment were still fielding teams with 10 players. So there definitely needs to be some oversight and common sense used if the VHSL ever picks it up. There should only be a handful of schools that qualify if that many; Highland, perhaps Council(?). Schools with less than say 130 students enrolled. If schools with more want to play then fine, but should not be allowed to compete for a title. Otherwise half of 1A will end up joining for a chance at a title.

I believe Highland and Council are the only schools that are currently under 130 students. King and Queen is the smallest football playing school in the state and they have 150 or so

 

[mmqp 4.0]

I believe Highland and Council are the only schools that are currently under 130 students. King and Queen is the smallest football playing school in the state and they have 150 or so

Yep, 6 man and 8 man is a nice concept where it is actually needed. Virginia isnt one of those places though. Adjusting the enrollment levels in 1A to a common sense cut off number would increase interest at that level rather quickly.

 

[mmqp 4.0]

Here is another site you all might enjoy if you havent checked it out before. It deals strictly with pro and semi-pro leagues. And while NFL/AFL/CFL stuff is easy to come by, some of the smaller leagues from back in the 30's-70's is not. Lots of Virginia based teams scattered throughout.

Pro Football Statistics and History - Pro Football Archives

The most complete, accurate and reliable reference source for NFL, CFL, XFL and USFL pro football history. Every team, every player, every coach plus standings, schedules, scores, statistics, stats, rosters, boxscores, game logs, awards and transactions.

www.profootballarchives.com

 

[Virginia HS Football Fan]

Yep, 6 man and 8 man is a nice concept where it is actually needed. Virginia isnt one of those places though. Adjusting the enrollment levels in 1A to a common sense cut off number would increase interest at that level rather quickly.

Ahhhh....a "common sense cut off number." Just like "common sense reforms" that certain types of politicians spit out. Like those make sense.

How about this? An equal breakdown of the schools? 80 in each class (79 in one) if you have four classes. 64 in each class (63 in one) if you have five classes. It's not that difficult.

However, the VHSL is too lazy to do this and they don't want to spend a few minutes dividing up the schools fairly and also making district play relevant again.

 

[VHSL-helper]

I believe Highland and Council are the only schools that are currently under 130 students. King and Queen is the smallest football playing school in the state and they have 150 or so

let's not forget Mount Rogers. Council will be gone in a few years.