The community rallied around the Houston football program last year to place a team in the Ozarks Football League.
Now it’s time to do it again.
HHS head coach Eric Sloan and assistant Vince McCrosky will soon begin fundraising for the 2016 OFL season. The Tigers will place a seventh-eighth grade team in the 18-team league celebrating its 11th anniversary.
“It’s an opportunity to continue building the program and allow these kid to compete an additional eight weeks,” Sloan said. “Currently there aren’t local schools playing in the league, so this is an opportunity to get better while other schools are idle.”
Last year, citizens rallied to raise close to $7,000 to cover the league’s $3,000 startup cost and players’ participation fees. Although Houston no longer owes the initial fee, each player must pay a $175 fee.
Community support through fundraising, including a fish fry, will assist players with the cost.
Sloan said the OFL had a positive impact on his program in 2015 with nine freshmen joining the program after competing in the league.
“When we started fall camp they were ahead of the game and more prepared to transition into the high school,” Sloan said.