Montana 8-Man: Circle trounces Poplar, 51-0 (PHOTO GALLERY)
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Sykotyk | October 5, 2025
Eastern Montana is dotting with small communities. Sometimes you can drive for an hour and not reach another school that has a football team. Through the center part of Montana is a non-descript but major road, Route 200, that runs east-west from Idaho to North Dakota. It is one of four major east/west roads in the state. South of the Hiline (US2), and north of I-90/94 and US12. It cuts through rolling arid lands in the eastern half of the state.
And one such community along that important route is Circle. Sitting at the split between 200 and 200S, the small town is a major junction. With an indelible history. Named after a former ranch in the area, the Mabry Cattle Company used a plain circle brand for their cattle. And the community that formed around the Circle Ranch became known as Circle.
The Wildcats are their sporting identity. And play 8-man football in Montana’s East Division of their C-8 Classification. A state nearly 3.5 times the size of Pennsylvania has just four leagues for 8-man football. In the east, Circle competes with such small outposts as Scobey, Fairview, Culbertson, Ekelaka (Carter County), Forsyth, MonDak (Westby/Grenora ND), Plentywood, and Poplar.
In many small towns, the schools are so small that 11-man football just isn’t feasible. And it’s been decades with 8-man football commonplace out west. Aside from the obvious, the rule changes are minimal. Unlike six-man that has many changes to the game mechanics due to the small number of players, 8-man is just 11-man but smaller. The field is, in most states, 80 x 40 yards. It’s still ten yards for a first down, still the same 12 minute quarters and normal timing rules.
And it’s football. Aesthetically no different than 11-man football when you sit down to watch it. And unless you see a game on a relined turf field, you generally don’t notice the difference if you’re not looking for it.
As with many small schools in Montana, the varsity football game is part of a doubleheader with underclassman. Either Junior High or a Middle School game. In this case, Poplar and Circle kicked off at 4pm for a Junior High game. Followed by the 7pm varsity game.
For more, and larger photos, from this game, click HERE.
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