Rams have productive day at Benton 7-on-7 tourney

Lakeside Rams head football coach Jared McBride said the team had a productive day at Benton’s annual 7-on-7 tournament at Panthers Stadium, winning four of five games in the first of the team’s eight days of summer competition.

“It was a good day,” McBride said. “It was our first competition of the summer. We’ve been lifting weights, but this was our first opportunity to compete.”

The Rams kicked off the day with a win over host Class 6A Benton before downing Class 5A-South opponent Hope and the 6A West Memphis junior varsity squad in the morning before defeating Class 3A Prescott. The Rams fell to Vilonia from the 5A-West to end the day, 4-1.

The Rams have several holes they are looking to fill after the graduation of 23 seniors from last year’s squad, including running back Dupree Swanson, The Sentinel-Record’s 2017 Football Offensive Player of the Year and All-Garland County First Team selection. McBride said that he felt optimistic about some of what he saw during the tournament, but he anticipates more after next week’s team camp at Pulaski Academy.

“We are always evaluating our kids,” he said. “In 7-on-7, we are focusing on our pass and reception game. We have a team camp at P.A. next Tuesday. We’ll be able to see a little more of what we have when we come out for that.”

This weekend, the Rams will take part in the Shootout of the South at Pulaski Academy, a twoday 7-on-7 tournament starting Friday that draws teams from Oklahoma and Texas, as well as from Arkansas.

After next week’s team camp, the Rams will take a break before returning to action in July to gear up for the 2018 season. Lakeside will kick off the season on Friday, Aug. 31, against Lake Hamilton at 7 p.m. at Chick Austin Stadium.