Otis-Bison High School serves 81 students in grades 6-12. Central Plains High School in Claflin has just under 100 in its high school ranks. In towns that small, support from the community is everything. As football season restarts, the football teams that represent those schools aren't just playing the sport to play it, or in the hopes of earning recognition at the next level. They're playing with the hopes of their hometowns at their backs.
"Our community has been amazing. The support that the coaches, the players, and everyone gets is just remarkable," says Central Plains Oilers head coach JD Johnson. "You'll find that in a lot of small towns when it comes to their football teams. And we try to remind the boys of that too, right when we start practice. 'You guys are the lifeblood of the school.' Everyone talks about football. I don't know what it is, but we really try to make that an emphasis for the boys, like, 'Hey, this means so much to your community, to your families... don't take it for granted.'"
In the small, neighboring communities of Otis and Bison, community is just as big a factor. Moving from 8-man ball to 6-man in 2024, the Cougars got a much-needed boost, going from winless in their final 8-man season to 6-4 in their first 6-man year. Head coach Marc Cowles has seen first hand what the sub-11-man game means for small communities.
"I just hope for those (small) schools that they can maintain a program, because having football in our small schools, it's important. It keeps the community encouraged and engaged. We've had tremendous support. You know, two years ago, our first year back (in 6-man) it just seemed like a lot of people were coming out to see what we were doing. And hopefully we just build on success and keep them coming back wanting to watch you."
Otis-Bison opens their third season in 6-man football on the road at Centre High School in Lost Springs, Kansas, while Central Plains plays on the road at Victoria. Both games are set for September 4th.