Sacred Heart preparing for national championship in Florida
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WEST JACKSON, Tenn. – Eight-man football isn’t the most popular sport in West Tennessee.
The game is normally played by smaller high schools, such as Sacred Heart. The ball is the same. The rules are very similar. But the number of players aren’t. “The 8-man football is starting to become more and more accepted in West Tennessee,” Sacred Heart head coach Mike Ashlock said. The Knights are the only school in WBBJ’s coverage area to play 8-man football. Players don’t see a difference. “In the end, football is football,” senior Michael Saia said. “I’ve seen some athletes that are probably going to go unnoticed, but definitely have what I think it takes to play at the next level.” With one game left on their schedule, Sacred Heart is ranked fourth by the National High School Tournament. “Well, this is history,” Ashlock laughed. The 7-0-2 Knights have never been ranked before. Their goal is to finish the season undefeated in Florida. “If we go to Panama [City Beach] and dominate, we’ll get some respect,” senior Kolby Johnson said. “It’s never been done with this school and with this team,” Ashlock said. “They’re extremely excited, which I am too.” Sacred Heart departs for Panama City in November. Ashlock is just happy to have made it this far. “You have to get them to believe in the system and team concept,” Ashlock said. “They’ve finally started to do that this year.”
