Live Oak prepares for 11-man football

WACO, Texas (KXXV) – The Live Oak Falcons are on a whole new path to the Red Zone after switching from six-man football to traditional eleven-man football.

“I'm cautiously optimistic about where we are and I'm happy with the work the guys are doing. They're learning mentally. So everything is good and we're in a really good position right now. We just have to keep working day by day,” said Matthew Hurst, head coach of the Live Oak football team.

“It's a little different than training with six men. A little less conditioning. More concentration on your own pitch. With six men, we were practically together the whole time,” said senior Allan Pahmiyer.

New head coach Matthew Hurst is bringing the team together. Hurst and his team have already seen progress in the first training sessions.

“We are growing closer together and I say it's amazing how quickly the kids have accepted us, not just me but also my fellow coaches,” he said.

“He has a slightly different coaching style and that might also fit with the fact that you train with 11 men instead of 6. It was nice to get to know him,” said Pahmiyer.

The Falcons finished last season undefeated in district play, but their postseason ended early because of Covenant Christian, the team they open this season against.

“It was a bittersweet ending. We lost to the state champions again. For the second year in a row, we're playing a team that we lost to in our first real game. And that's why it's exciting for us, knowing we still have a chance,” Pahmiyer said.

The Falcons’ first game of the season will be against Covenant Christian.

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