That’s how Coach Mitchell Baird describes eight-man football, a format that has given Martinsville High School the chance to keep Friday nights alive under the lights, even as enrollment numbers have shifted.

The change came out of necessity. Like many small schools across Illinois, Martinsville faced dwindling numbers that made traditional 11-man football both difficult and unsafe. In some cases, teams were forced to put players on the field just to meet the 11-player requirement. “That’s not sustainable,” Baird explained. “You get into player safety concerns real quick.”

So when the Illinois 8-Man Football Association formed in 2017, Martinsville stepped in. The format keeps the field 100 yards long but trims 14 yards in width, creating a faster, more open style of play. It levels the playing field for small schools, with an enrollment cap to ensure fair matchups. “It’s given us a chance to compete,” said Industrial Arts teacher and fellow coach Josh Stowers. “And more kids want to be involved in something that’s successful.”

Baird knows Martinsville as home. A ‘96 alum, he now works full-time as a surveyor for the Illinois Department of Transportation in Paris, but his heart is on the gridiron. Stowers, meanwhile, came to Martinsville from Rockville, Indiana—the covered bridge capital of the world—and brought with him both teaching experience and a deep love of coaching. Together, the two stepped into the coaching role out of equal parts necessity and devotion.

“It really started because we had seniors who needed a season,” Stowers recalled. “We looked at each other and said, if this is going to happen, we’re going to have to do it.” Their own sons were part of the program then, but the work has continued far beyond family ties. They are joined by Coach Troy Higginbotham, who also works outside of the school during the day and his motivation is driven by community connection.

Coach Stowers the invaluable responsibility of strength and conditioning inside the school building. “It’s great to have him here every day,” Baird said. “He anchors this thing.”

Eighteen boys make up this year’s roster. Every one of them, the coaches insist, will walk away with more than memories of touchdowns and tackles. “You’re learning more than just football here,” Baird explained. “You’re learning life lessons that’ll carry you through—teamwork, communication, fighting through struggles together. Those are building blocks for the future.”

And yes, that includes handling defeat. After dropping a game to St. Anne—a Kankakee area team—the players were reminded that growth comes not only in victory but in bouncing back. As Stowers puts it: “Anything in life you’re going to grow from requires you to be uncomfortable,” to which I added, “So, you better get comfortable being uncomfortable.”

One player has even taken that phrase to heart, repeating it until it’s become a kind of team mantra. For Baird and Stowers, that’s proof enough that the message is sinking in.

Stowers wears more hats than most. In addition to coaching football, he teaches industrial arts, serves as head baseball coach, and has even stepped in with basketball. “I tell the boys you can’t play a sport in Martinsville without having to deal with me,” he laughed. “So, you’re stuck with me no matter what.”

That presence matters. Coaches often see young people in their most vulnerable moments—after a breakup, dealing with problems at home, or just struggling through the grind of practice. “It’s both a privilege and a responsibility,” Stowers reflected. “Not every kid has a positive role model. If I can be that for them, even for a season, that’s worth it.”

For Stowers, the connection is equally meaningful. “I like to teach, but I love to coach,” he admitted. “There are days when coaching makes the hard days worthwhile.”

In a place like Martinsville, football isn’t just a game—it’s the heartbeat of autumn. “There’s not a whole lot else going on every weekend,” Baird said. “If something’s happening this time of year, it’s going to be a football game.”

That support shines brightest during playoff runs. Two years ago, when Martinsville hosted a Final Four game, the stands overflowed, fans lining the field three and four rows deep. Alumni classes came back, sharing the field once more with today’s players. “It was pretty special,” Stowers remembered. “The whole town behind us like that—it’s something the boys won’t forget.”

Neither Baird nor Stowers expect players to land a Division I scholarship, let alone play professionally. That isn’t the point. The point is to prepare young men for the rest of their lives.

“You celebrate the wins, you work through the losses, and you come out stronger,” Baird said. “That’s football, and that’s life.”

As practice time approached and the boys waited for their gameday yoga session, both coaches were quick to head back out of our interview, eager to rejoin their team. Soon, the whistle would blow, helmets would snap, and the lessons would continue—eight players at a time, full speed, in Martinsville.