Chilton Christian Academy has announced it will field a six-man football team this fall.

The team will join the newly formed six-man division of the Christian Football Association. The Patriots will face the same opponents as they do in other sports.

“It’s something that the association we’re in is doing,” athletic director and first-year coach Todd Stephens said. “They have eight-man, and a lot of us rural schools can’t field that.”

Six-man football essentially follows the same rules as that of major college and professional leagues, with a few minor exceptions. For example, the field is 40 yards by 80 yards, first downs are 15 yards long, and field goals are two points, just to name a few.

While eight-man football has experienced some success in the state of Alabama, six-man football is a new concept altogether.

“It’s the first league in the state of Alabama,” said Stephens. “I’ll be heading [the team] up the first year. It’ll be a learning curve for sure.”

Stephens said that while six-man football is new to football fans around the area, the fast pace of it might not be unusual for those who know about arena football.

“They say it’s a lot like arena football,” he said. “It’s more a running game than a big man’s game. You don’t need big bruisers here.”

Stephens said he expects his team to experience growing pains but is optimistic about the season.

“If we win a game, I’ll be happy,” he said. “I think we could go .500. Seeing as how we’re all new, I don’t think anyone will go undefeated.”

CCA already has a tentative eight-game schedule and plans to kick off the season on the road at Trinity of Oxford.

The Patriots’ first home game, played at the school, will be Sept. 2 against Faith.

For more information on the team, call the school at 688-4454.