Six-man football is not the first thought that comes to mind when discussing Texas high school football, but the San Marcos Academy Bears have embraced the new style of football and the success that has come with it.
In 2019, San Marcos Academy graduated a total of 19 seniors from it’s football roster. This left San Marcos Academy with a lack of sizable players to fulfill the need for an 11-man team. In addition, the Coronavirus pandemic cut the total number of students that generally would enroll at the private school in half. All of this led to the decision for them to become a six-man football team for the 2020 season.
The idea of a six-man team at San Marcos Academy was questioned and debated by everyone in the school’s community, but inevitably the decision was made, much to the players’ wonders and concerns on how this new style of football would work.
“There was some resistance at first because it is different, but the players quickly realized the success we had in the first year as a six-man football team. It’s just a good fit for us and a better fit for the personnel and the size of kids we have,” said the schools athletic director Toby Wade.
“There was some resistance at first because it is different, but the players quickly realized the success we had in the first year as a six-man football team. It’s just a good fit for us and a better fit for the personnel and the size of kids we have,” said the schools athletic director Toby Wade.
As of 2020, Texas has only 262 total six-man football teams. With the Bears being new to the game, the team needed to transition from one style of play to a completely different one to be ready for the upcoming season. San Marcos Academy needed to adapt fast to new rules, drills and play calling to survive in the niche world of six-man football.
Six-man football has a condensed field with larger end zones. With an 11-man team relying on weight, strength, and numbers, six-man football requires its players to be fast on their feet and have even faster reflexes due to the natural speed of the game.
“It’s a big jump from 11-man to six. Running routes changes everything in the whole game,” wide receiver Cole Krackau said.
With new game rules and changes in the playbook, San Marcos Academy’s 11-man team needed a six-man mind. In steps Head Coach Chris Chacon, coming into his second season as the Bear’s head coach, Chacon had a hand in the culture and transition from six-man to eleven man. With an extensive six-man football background and football experience, Chacon was up to the task.
Chacon came from another successful local six-man football team, the Veritas Defenders. Chacon brought the Defender’s three winning seasons and a state title before departing.
“I’m really glad Chris Chacon came in with his great six-man background. He has a great understanding of the game. He is a good coach, but he has a fantastic six-man mind and knows the game in and out,” Wade said.
With new game rules and changes in the playbook, San Marcos Academy’s 11-man team needed a six-man mind. In steps Head Coach Chris Chacon, coming into his second season as the Bear’s head coach, Chacon had a hand in the culture and transition from six-man to eleven man. With an extensive six-man football background and football experience, Chacon was up to the task.
Chacon came from another successful local six-man football team, the Veritas Defenders. Chacon brought the Defender’s three winning seasons and a state title before departing.
Chacon, stepped into the coaching staff attributing to a semi-final appearance in 2020 and a state championship appearance in his first year as head coach for the Bears in 2021. Chacon was thrilled with not just the success on the field, but the impact the success had on San Marcos Academy’s community.
“Just a new page in San Marcos Academy’s history of sustainability and setting a standard for the school community for years to come,” Chocon said. “Hopefully, that rubs off not only obviously in the football program but rubs off on everyone else on this campus in terms of all of the extracurriculars on what the standard is here at San Marcos Academy.
Reflection
One thing I am proud of on this project is the way I was able to gather clips and images when the Bears season unexpectedly ended. It was a struggle, but I am proud of what I was able to accomplish. One thing that I did struggle with was finding the best effects and lighting for the videos I think I could use some work on works best for each clip. Overall I am proud of what I was able to do.
