No, the scoreboard you’re seeing is correct. This was a football game, not a basketball game. This was the outcome of West Texas’ six-on-six style of the state religion. Where Jennifer grew up, the population centers are so small, few high schools can come up with the roster needed for the traditional minimal 22-person game, but dammit, they’re going find a way to play!
I was pretty curious to see this and Jennifer had been dying to watch a game because her alma mater has been dominant for a couple decades (they were lame when she was in high school). Thankfully a school from Cherokee, TX (about two-three hours west of Austin) gave Richland a scare; everyone else in the area gets stomped so hard, the game ends in what’s called a mercy rule. More below.
So what is different about six-on-six? A lot:
- Eighty-yard field, not sure how wide it is, but it looks smaller than the traditional 100-yard length. They play on grass too, as the NFL and NCAA need to push for.
- Each team plays with six people on the field and many play offense and defense. Both schools did have around 20 players total.
- Offense must achieve 15 yards instead of ten per set of four downs. I expected much more passing but both schools run the ball pretty often.
- A touchdown is still worth six points but the extra “point” kick is with two yet if it is run or passed on a conversion, it is only worth one. More kicks are blocked than usual too.
- If one team losing by 45 or more points by the end of the third quarter, the game ends via the mercy rule. Richland often gets to call it an early Friday night.
- Given more open space, kickoffs gamble more on getting the opposition to fumble it through the offside kick (this happened in Richland’s favor). There are more lateral passes in the backfield so it’s common to have a non-QB throw the pass. It short, it looks like a pickup game with tackling.
That night was exciting. The Cherokee team had the lead for a good chunk of the game and they were giving Richland a hard time. However, Richland lucked out blocking one kick and forcing another one to be a conversion. Cherokee could’ve won if it weren’t for a star player losing his cool and getting a personal foul.
Tried to maintain my social distance and wear a mask while steaming up my glasses. The bigger effort was keeping my mouth shut when I spotted a couple MAGAts near me in the stands. Besides, I was a guest and I didn’t want to upset Jennifer over something she’d been begging me to see for a while. I hope to again, just when it’s safer.