Kimball Longhorn football team looks ahead after wrapping up the 2023 season

The Kimball Longhorn 8-man football team went on the road Friday night to Bayard. While they fell to the Tigers, the Longhorns showed great promise at times during the game. Such has been the theme of the 2023 season, that was highlighted by two wins, including their first home win in five years, but also handed the longhorns two shutouts.

"We have three strong sophomores and three freshmen that have been solid starters for us this season," Kimball Activities Director and Head Football Coach Darrell Howitt said. He believes the team will only get stronger for the next few years.

"It has been a goal to spend more time with the developmental teams," Howitt pointed out.

While Kimball High School didn't even field a team two years ago, the Jr. High and pee-wee program known as the "Sharks" have shown growing numbers and more success than the older team.

Howitt is on a long list of Kimball football fans that think that will spell success for Kimball High School as time goes on.

The team has already committed to playing 8-man football for two more years, but would like to return to an 11-man team after that, if enrollment and interest allow. That would bring more opportunities to compete closer to Kimball and may reignite old rivalries like the Kimball vs. Sidney rivalry that kept stands in both towns packed for decades before the Kimball team fell on hard times.