Sumiton Christian football team faces uncertain season with player shortage
MANY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAMS ARE PRACTICING WITH THE HOPE OF WINNING IT ALL FOR THEIR SCHOOL. BUT ONE LOCAL COACH SAYS HIS TEAM DOESN’T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH PLAYERS TO START THEIR SEASON. WVTM 13 S BRYCE OSELEN SPOKE WITH THE COACH AND PLAYERS ON THEIR MESSAGE TO THEIR COMMUNITY, AND WHY THEY WANT OTHERS TO JOIN THE TEAM. THE SOMERTON CHRISTIAN FOOTBALL TEAM IS WORKING HARD AT PRACTICE, BUT THEY’RE MISSING ONE THING. IF WE DON’T HAVE TEN MORE PLAYERS, WE WON’T BE ABLE TO HAVE A FOOTBALL SEASON. THE TEAM SEASON STARTS IN LESS THAN A MONTH, BUT WITHOUT A FULL ROSTER, IT’S GOING TO BE HARD TO COMPETE. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 12 AND WE HAVE ZERO BACKUPS, SO PLAYING A WHOLE FOOTBALL GAME THAT’S LIKE OUT OF THE QUESTION. IT’S COACH JARIUS WILLIAMS FIRST YEAR WITH THE TEAM AND HE HOPES TO TURN THINGS AROUND. I’M ABLE TO TEACH GUYS DISCIPLINE. I’M ABLE TO TEACH GUYS WHAT TEAM LOOK LIKE, WHAT COMMUNITY LOOK LIKE BROTHERHOOD. THAT’S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT GOES ROLL OVER INTO LIFE. BOYS FROM SEVENTH THROUGH 12TH GRADE ARE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY, AND CURRENT PLAYERS ARE CHALLENGING THEIR CLASSMATES TO TAKE THE FIELD. IT WON’T HURT TO TRY. EVERYBODY NEEDS TO TRY SOMETHING. EVEN IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT. IT’S NOT LIKE ONCE YOU SIGN UP, YOU CANNOT NOT PLAY. BUT I WOULD TELL EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTY, IN THIS CITY, JUST TO COME OUT HERE AND GIVE IT A TRY. YOU MISS 100% OF SHOTS THAT YOU DON’T TAKE. SO TAKE WHAT YOU TAKE, WHAT YOU WANT TO TAKE. BECAUSE I MEAN, YEAH, WALKER COUNTY, Y’ALL PEOPLE NEED TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT COMING OUT OF SUMMER. CHRISTIAN. WE NEED Y’ALL. AND WE’LL PUT OUR SHOW OUT FOR Y’ALL. IF THE TEAM CAN’T FILL THE OPEN SLOTS, IT AIN’T NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF. IT’S NOTHING TO BE SCARED OF. LIKE FOOTBALL IS A IS A GAME OF LIFE. THEIR SEASON MAY END BEFORE IT STARTS, AND COACH WILLIAMS SAYS FOOTBALL IS MORE THAN A GAME. IT GROWS BOYS INTO MEN. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, MAN, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP YOU GROW FROM A BOY TO A MAN IN WALKER COUNTY. BRYCE JOSLIN, WVTM 13. SUMITON CHRISTIAN IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO START THEIR SEASON AUGUST 22ND, SO WE’LL KEEP FOLLOWING THEIR PROGRESS AS THEY
Sumiton Christian football team faces uncertain season with player shortage
Updated: 6:35 PM CDT Aug 4, 2025
The Sumiton Christian School football team may not kick off its season due to a shortage of players.There are only 12 students currently participating in practice compared to the average high school team size of at least 25 players.Coach Jarius Williams, who is new to the program, said the team’s history has led to a lack of interest among students.Boys from Sumiton Christian School, ranging from 7th to 12th grade, are eligible to play.”The ultimate goal is to get kids active in football so they can learn the fundamentals of the game so we can build this program up,” Williams said.Williams hopes to teach discipline and life skills through football, a sport he loves, and is working to recruit new players to strengthen the team.
SUMITON, Ala. —
The Sumiton Christian School football team may not kick off its season due to a shortage of players.
There are only 12 students currently participating in practice compared to the average high school team size of at least 25 players.
Coach Jarius Williams, who is new to the program, said the team’s history has led to a lack of interest among students.
Boys from Sumiton Christian School, ranging from 7th to 12th grade, are eligible to play.
“The ultimate goal is to get kids active in football so they can learn the fundamentals of the game so we can build this program up,” Williams said.
Williams hopes to teach discipline and life skills through football, a sport he loves, and is working to recruit new players to strengthen the team.