Coming off the 2024 season, Sierra Lutheran High School football was nonexistent, having cancelled a season with low turnout.

To start 2025, the Falcons are currently 5-0 after romping through their first five games in their return to the field.

All five games were played in the 8-man football format, which is conducted on a narrower field than the 11-man variety.

Those 8-man contests are now a thing of the past, as the Falcons will transition to 11-man football Saturday against Silver Stage.

The switch will present some challenges, but the Falcon football team is confident in their ability to adjust.

With three more players on the field, Sierra Lutheran will ask players that might have had a reserve role early in the season to jump in as a starter come Saturday.

“I think the idea that halfway through the season we get to open up three new spots is awesome,” said SLHS head coach Justin Barlow. “The kids are really excited about where they get to fit into that.”

While it might be easy to get lost in analyzing the Falcons’ scheme, the new dimensions of the field might just be the biggest adjustment.

“It felt like arena football,” said Barlow of the 8-man game. “Now it’s so wide … it’s just understanding our spacing is so much more important.”

DISCIPLINE IN TRANSITION

While the coaches and players aren’t concerned about the adjustment, there are a few major differences.

Along with having to cover the full field sideline to sideline, Sierra Lutheran will be adding players to the equation on both offense and defense.

The new roles won’t be without their challenges, but the Falcon coaching staff feels the similarities outweigh the differences.

“I think the hardest thing was trying to not have the kids confuse themselves. In a lot of ways, the game doesn’t change a whole lot,” said Barlow. “It’s not really that different. If you’re playing inside backer, you still have the same responsibilities.”

Both the offensive and defensive lines will get new members to the mix in a starting capacity.

The Falcons have been rotating members of the offensive line in 8-man games to ease the adjustment period.

 Junior Max De La Torre will make the move from guard to tackle, but he’s not overly concerned with a position change on the line.

“He fits right in that spot,” said Barlow of De La Torre, who checks in at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds. “He’s more of that true, traditional tackle.”

At linebacker, sophomore Adrian Brown and freshman Nick Cook-Peterson will get more snaps as the Falcons add a LB to the field.

Logan Whittington, who has been Sierra Lutheran’s center, won’t see much change on the offensive line, but will be tasked with playing more defensive snaps come Saturday.

“If I am playing center, no, it dumbs it down a lot more,” said Whittington. “Getting more guys on the field. It’s going to be so much fun.”

(Sierra Lutheran junior Hudson Hazard (25) collapses on the edge against Loyalton last weekend. Carter Eckl / Nevada Appeal)

‘FUN WITH THE GUYS’

Through the first five games of the season, the Falcon line has helped block for 1,213 rushing yards on 102 carries, averaging more than 11 yards per touch.

It’s been a similar story on defense as Sierra Lutheran has forced 13 turnovers through five games.

Special teams retains the same dynamic, but Falcon players will have their lane assignments adjusted to cover the wider dimensions.

Jacob McGuire, who is on the offensive line, will also join the kick return team, too.

“Just doing the same kind of thing. Blocking the same people,” said McGuire.

Regardless of the results the rest of the way, the Falcons agreed that this season has been one for the memory books.

“The best part of the season for me has just been having fun with the guys. It’s my first time ever playing and I play all three sides of the ball, if you count special teams,” said junior Hudson Hazard.

Hazard, who has a touchdown catch at tight end, is anxious to get some more of his teammates alongside him.

“It’s going to be really nice because we’re going to have another tight end in some of our plays … 11-man is real football so I’m ready for it,” said Hazard.

The junior also has a pair of fumble recoveries from his defensive end position.

FOUR MORE CHANCES

Sierra Lutheran has four 11-man games on the schedule the rest of the way.

For all the challenges the Falcon football program has faced over the last 12 months, an opportunity to finish the 2025 campaign unbeaten is in their sights.

“Undefeated, for sure,” said Hazard. “It’ll take heart, consistency. These next couple of games will be our hardest games, but we just got to stay locked in.”

“Winning, going 9-0” said McGuire. “That is the dream.”

(Freshman Brenton Hamlet (64) wraps up a Loyalton ballcarrier Saturday while Max De La Torre (65) and Nick Cook-Peterson (22) pursue the play. Carter Eckl / Nevada Appeal)