I attended yesterday's game. Silsbee suited out 9 players, played 7. Of those 9, 3-4 will be starters, 2 will be varsity players, the others JV. Atascocita suited out 15 players with only 2 players expected to be moved down to JV when football ends. Cita coach told me he is only expecting 1 football player to be on varsity and he is a bench player. Cita's top 10 in rotation played yesterday, including their best player who had been out the first few games this year. Silsbee will be getting 7 from football, with 1-2 of them being starters and 3 being the first 4 off the bench. That's very significant when comparing these two teams in a game. Enrollment size not the issue. What was on the floor and bench yesterday is the issue. Just facts.
No way, no way should Atascocita with their full team should lose to a Silsbee "Lite" team. I said Cita would beat Silsbee, which they did.
Silsbee at full strength beats Cita yesterday, no question. Many in attendance with no Silsbee connections stated this as well. Now I don't necessarily believe Silsbee beat's Concordia with a full team, but they would have had a better chance with a full squad.
Silsbee has faced this issue for years. Starting off the season without several varsity players is nothing new for the Tigers. The difference in the last 3 years or so from past years, is that Coach Sigler has upgraded the schedule in the early part of the season. Playing full squad 6A, 5A and big Private schools early who have played a few games is a tall task for a full Tiger squad, much less a Lite squad.
This all works for Silsbee in the long run. So what if Silsbee is something like 3-7 when football ends. The team will be better for it.