If Tallulah Academy had stuck with 11-man football, coach Greg Bigham reasons, it would’ve won a few games and been competitive.
By making the move in the offseason to the eight-man division, however, the Trojans have become a legitimate playoff contender.
Tallulah is 3-1 overall, and 2-1 in District 8-A, heading into Friday’s road game at Tensas Academy (1-4, 0-3). It can make the playoffs and secure a winning record by winning its last two district games.
Tallulah’s last playoff appearance was in 2010, and its last winning season in 2009. It was 1-8 last season.
Bigham credited his players for the team’s success. He said their skill set and speed was well-suited for the eight-man game, and the switch came at the right time to take advantage of it.
“We have kids that can run and that fit the eight-man game. We’ve been faster than most of the teams we’ve played. That’s been a big asset for us,” Bigham said. “We knew going in we would have a chance to compete. We’re doing in eight-man what I wanted to do in 11-man.”
Also helping the cause has been the development of junior quarterback Mason Todd.
Todd threw two touchdown passes and ran for 132 yards and two more scores in Tallulah’s last game, a 36-22 district over Franklin Academy on Sept. 19.
“He put on 25 or 30 pounds of muscle in the weight room,” Bigham said. “He’s made the transition from not hardly playing at all to being an outstanding leader.”

North Sunflower at SIA
Defending eight-man champion Sharkey-Issaquena has run roughshod over the rest of the division this season, but now it’s time to start beating up the neighbors.
SIA (6-0, 1-0 District 6-A) hosts North Sunflower (2-4, 1-0) in the second of four district games scattered among the last six playing dates of the season.
The Confederates blasted previously unbeaten Marvell Academy 52-8 in their district opener last week, and have dominated opponents defensively. Since giving up 30 points to Kemper Academy in the season opener, SIA has posted two shutouts and allowed just 26 points total.
Unlike some other MAIS classifications, there are no wild card slots in the eight-man playoff bracket. Only the top two teams from each division make it. So, although SIA has won 28 consecutive games and has not been challenged this season, it still needs a strong finish to qualify for the postseason.