The Ypsilanti Community Middle School football program may mean the demise of the Ypsilanti Huron Braves middle school aged teams.

Alan Warren | Ann Arbor News file photo

Ypsilanti Community Schools head football coach Rufus Pipkins is expecting huge participation numbers at the middle school level in the fall. Unfortunately for the Ypsilanti Huron Braves (commonly referred to as Junior Braves) the middle school program’s success could mean the demise of the little league football organization's top teams.

Willow Run Community Schools offered football at the junior high level, but Ypsilanti Public Schools did not, and the Braves has for 49 years been where many in the Ypsilanti community played football during their middle school years.

Ypsilanti Community Middle School - the school formed when the districts merged this summer - will have a middle school football program. Though the plan is to have one combined seventh-and-eighth grade team this year, YCS varsity football coach Rufus Pipkins expects there to be separate seventh and eighth grade teams soon.

“With the newness of everything and combining both sets of athletes, interest has really jumped off,” Pipkins said. “We expect the numbers to be real high.”

Pipkins said the middle school program will mimic the offensive and defensive style of its varsity counterpart.

“Those reps at an early age are important,” Pipkins said. “They only play six games, it’s a quick season, but at least you get a chance to put the system in at the lower level and identify kids.”

The Braves, who play in the Western Suburban Junior Football League, only have five middle school aged players registered for the 2013 season, a 75 percent drop from last year, according to board president Charles Jones.

The Braves began practice on July 29 and the first game is scheduled for August 24. With middle school football not starting until school commences on September 3, Jones doesn’t expect a spike in registration anytime soon.

“Most kids, like us, are waiting to see what the middle school program has, so we’re in the wait and see portion of it,” Jones said. “(Junior) football overall in this area has been hit by junior high programs, which is understandable.

“(High school) programs don’t want to be a step behind.”

The five middle school aged players will practice with the younger teams in the interim.

Working against the Braves’ chances for increased numbers is the fact that YCS is not a pay-to-participate district. It costs $150 to join the Braves.

“Why pay when you can get it for free?” Jones said.

Also working against the Braves is the 175-pound weight limit of the WSJFL. Middle school football has no weight limit.

In the past, Ypsilanti High School coaches have communicated with the Braves program to ensure the team could act as a training ground, just as the middle school program will act now. Jones hopes that relationship can continue in the future.

“We’ll just keep open communication with football coaches and try to let parents and coaches know that we’ve been a part of the community for 50 years,” Jones said. “We have 50 years of tradition and we’re transparent, too, so parents know exactly what they’re getting for their money.

“We make sure we’re taking care of our kids.”

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.