Ellington

Sale Creek Middle/High School needs community support to continue building up its new football program.

Middle school football players are hosting a Panthers Bonfire Sept. 15 from 6-9 p.m., when barbecue plates with sides will be available for $10.

The Sale Creek Middle School football team enrolls 33 players; the school plans to start a high school team with 30 players.

“The bonfire is a kickoff for the new Sale Creek High School junior varsity football team that starts in the fall of 2013,” said Sale Creek Middle School head football coach Tim Smith. “There’s been a lot of excitement about the new junior varsity team at Sale Creek. For the high school team we are looking at needing $25,000 to $40,000 worth of equipment and gear. The high school team needs gear, pads, jerseys, helmets, pants and more.

“In either 2014 or 2015, we will launch a Sale Creek High School varsity football team.”

The school is in the process of tearing up the former tennis courts to create a high school practice football field. The middle school football team practices on the adjacent baseball field. Since Sale Creek Middle/High School does not have a football field, the middle school team has been playing at Soddy-Daisy Middle School.

“It’s been tough being a smaller school,” said Smith, who played football at Soddy-Daisy High School. “We go against inner-city schools. We won our first game last season during the last game. The first season we did not win. This season we are 1-2, so we are showing signs of improvement.

“We started with a middle school football team in the fall of 2010,” he continued. “The middle school team has been blessed with donations. We need new game pants for middle school.”

Smith said he plans to continue coaching the middle school team, so the school is looking for a high school football coach.

He said Sale Creek football players participate in a championship program by displaying sportsmanship.

“I expect excellent behavior in the classroom and on the field,” he said. “We really push that they represent the school as model athletes. I expect them to look professional. We wear button-down shirts and ties on game days to set them apart.”