Extreme heat that we're experiencing stirs two thoughts in high school football -- depth and small schools.

Few schools -- even the large ones -- have the luxury of playing a two-platoon system anymore. As new high schools have sprouted like peach trees in the Valley enrollments have been reduced at established schools. And that means smaller squad sizes in football. Clovis High, for example, routinely marched out 80-man varsity teams in the '80s and '90s. But, in recent years, Cougars' teams have been limited to about 40 players.

That figure, of course, would appear enormous to the Avenals, Mendotas and Riverdales of the Valley. With 20-man rosters, they typically have 80-90% of their starters going both ways. And, in 100-degree heat tonight, that will be a breathtaking challenge.