Although some schools will travel more than 250 miles to play a ballgame, those schools are few and far between. Many times, these schools are forced to play junior varsity or freshman teams from the larger surrounding schools. Playing for a small school does have its advantages. With as many players as the team has out, everyone on the team knows they have a chance at seeing some playing time. The fans are enthusiastic, perhaps more enthusiastic than at the larger schools.
Traditions run deep and actually mean something to each player.
Very few of these kids will go on to play college football, so they play as hard as they can, knowing they only have four years in their football careers. The players know their names will not be heard outside their hometowns, unless it is mentioned by the opposing coach in preparation for that week's game. They don't play for anyone else but themselves, and they wouldn't have it any other way. The hitting is not any less physical. The fans are not any quieter.