Red Level has tried for several years now to form a seventh and eighth grade football team.

Now, with more seventh graders than it has ever seen, the Tigers enter the 2012 season with an eager outlook, RLS coach Tony Ingram said.

“I think for the most part, we have seventh and eighth graders,” he said. “It’s just the opposite of our varsity in the fact that we are deep in linemen, but don’t have a lot of skill people.”

Ingram said if it must be done, he’ll have to get a couple ninth graders to fill the needed roles on the team.

This season, RLS will be playing in the same conference with heavyweights Andalusia, Straughn and Opp.

Ingram said he thinks it’s great that his team will be competing with the other locals.

“I think it’s going to be good gate-wise,” he said. “They’ll travel well. You’re schedule’s made for you every year.”

Even though winning is a good thing for any team, Ingram said it’s important to help develop each player participating on the middle school team for the next level.

Red Level will play Straughn in a jamboree game on Thurs., Aug. 23, at 5:30 p.m.