Last season was a trial by fire in several ways for the Fuqua Falcons. First off, they didn’t really get a full off-season with their new coach, as Tyler Cristo took over two months before practices started. More than that, they were switching to an entirely new concept, going from the traditional 11-man football to 8-man, which is very much a different game. It was a challenge for the team, which went 1-8 overall and 0-3 in the region. 

“I think they handled it the best way they could,” Fuqua Coach Tyler Cristo said. “The schedule was a little daunting, with some teams like Covenant, with bigger enrollments and just bigger athletes. We had a bumpy ride but we weathered the storm. We got better each and every game.” 

It was, in many ways, learning an entirely new sport. In 8-man competition, the width of the field for 8-man competition is 40 yards. That’s about 13 1/3 narrower than the traditional field, which is 53 1/3 wide. All of that translates to a much faster game than regular high school football, with scores that can reach the 70s at times. Typically, most offenses have two fewer offensive tackles and one less receiver, but a creative coach can mix and match. And overall, Cristo said he was impressed with how players adapted to the game. 

“We were in every game until the second half, where we gassed out a lot,” Cristo said. “We just ran out of juice. We were tired and couldn’t get off the field on third down to save our lives.” 

The benefits of a full off-season 

This time around, things are a bit different. The Falcons had a full off-season to study up, both on the game itself and Cristo’s playbook. Cristo also took advantage of the extra time to help build up the team’s conditioning. He brought in Tim Evans from the FIT Academy, to work with and help condition players from February through the end of school. 

This year, Cristo is also switching the scheme a bit, incorporating more of the Pistol offense. Switching to the Pistol means the quarterback lines up four yards behind center, instead of the seven in a traditional shotgun formation. The running back is three yards behind the quarterback, giving some more options. The goal for Fuqua is to run with a three-man offensive line, then two receivers and a slot, playing off the ball. 

“I just think we needed some more misdirection, some more motion in our offense,” Cristo said about why he made the move to the Pistol. “Most of our plays have three options in it. The quarterback has to be quick, he’s got to be decisive and this is a timing offense now, so he and the others have to be in sync.” 

That quarterback will be sophomore Colton Reynolds. Cristo praised Reynolds’ dedication to learning the plays and improving. 

“He and his family went to Denmark last month and he took his playbook,” Cristo said. “He asked for and I gave him work to do while over there. He studies. He wants to do great. That’s always a plus, when you have coachable kids.” 

Cristo also singled out Jackson Hicks as a key part of this year’s offense. The junior, who comes in at 6’1 ft. and 191 lbs., is part running back, part wide receiver and part free safety, playing all over the field. 

“He’s gonna be our go-to guy,” Cristo said. “He’s gonna have the ball in his hands a lot.” 

And one other player who came in and surprised during camp was freshman Reilly Carter. 

“He’s a ninth grader, but he’s going to get significant time,” Cristo said of the linebacker, who will also suit up as a running back this year. “He’s probably one of the hardest hitters already on our team. He is going to be a force to be reckoned with as he gets older and matures. I’m anxious and excited to see him in action.” 

Fuqua builds for now and the future

This is a young group suiting up for Fuqua, with just two seniors on the team. Cristo said the biggest thing he wants to do this season is change the mindset, not just from players but the community as well. A mindset that says the team is already the underdog before they even take the field. 

“I want them going into the game and thinking we have a chance,” Cristo said. “Not being defeated before they even walk out on the field. That’s the biggest thing with these kids. If they look down the schedule and say oh we don’t even have a chance, we have to change that mindset.”
And so far, through practice and scrimmages, Cristo likes what he sees. Now it’s time to put that into practice, with the season set to start. 

“It’s about believing in yourself,” Cristo said about keys to winning. “You’ve got to do your job. We have to quit worrying about someone else’s job. You also can’t worry about the past. It’s about each and every day, getting better than the day before.” 

Fuqua starts their season on the road Friday, Aug. 30, as they travel to take on Quantico. Their first home game is set for Friday, Sept. 6, as they’ll play host to Greenbrier Christian Academy, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.