Cougars finding summer success in 7-on-7 action
Clayton hopes state tournament berth lays foundation for fall campaign
Cinco Ranch is returning to the 7-on-7 state tournament, but that wasn’t the ultimate goal going into the summer.
Coach Don Clayton just wanted to see his players compete. “Although it’s not 11-on11 football, it’s still competing and it sure beats not competing,” Clayton said.
“That’s the biggest thing, and then obviously, when you look at particular areas, we’re inexperienced at receiver, so this gave us a great chance to get some experience there. And defensively, it gives you a chance to work on the skills that you’ll need to be able to use come the fall.”
By qualifying for state, the Cougars have a few more chances to competed and improve.
They open the Division I tournament Friday in Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Station. The Cougars are in Pool C with Somerset, Temple and DeSoto, which they face at 1 p.m.
The championship game is set for 4 p.m. Saturday. Cinco Ranch qualified for state at its own tournament June 26, which was the last of five state qualifying tourneys it competed in.
Clayton said the team started strong at The Woodlands’ tournament before attrition hit in the mid-stretch of the season, with players heading out
for various reasons.
They all came back together just in time two weeks ago.
“We had most of them at the first tournament and we went to the semifinals and lost to The Woodlands,” Clayton said. “And the last tournament we had basically the same group back together, and we were able to qualify (for state).”
The main goal going into the final SQT still wasn’t qualifying for state, Clayton said, so there wasn’t any desperation.
But a return to College Station does come with benefits.
“Qualifying isn’t an end-all, but the benefit is you get to go compete four more times, and typically it’s against somebody you’ve never seen or haven’t seen very much of, as is the case … (with) DeSoto,” Clayton said. “You obviously hear a lot of good things about DeSoto, and the kids are going to get to see them for the first time ever.”
Cinco Ranch saw powerhouse Southlake Carroll in 2006 and 2008.
This time it’s DeSoto and Temple, a reigning Class 5A Division I finalist after falling to Aledo 49-45 last year.
“We’ll get to see two people right off the bat who are pretty noteworthy, and that’s good,” Clayton said.
The Cougars beat Kingwood Park, Terry and Travis in pool play at the Cinco qualifier, then edged Reagan 34-33 in the semifinals to clinch their return to state.
“Quarterback Russell Morrison had a really good game, and tight end Corey Rau, offensively, had a real good game,” Clayton said.
They came away with a 27-19 win over rival Katy in the final.
“Both teams qualified, so that was a good thing, that two Katy ISD schools got in at that tournament,” Clayton said.
“I can’t measure the intensity. I wasn’t on the field. But kids compete, and theirs competed well and ours competed well.
“It was a good, healthy competition.”
There isn’t a competition at quarterback, with returning starter Russell Morrison gearing up for his senior season.
“Russell had a real good spring,” Clayton said.
“You could see he built on the experience he gained last year. He was very confident about what he was doing. And then the times that he’s been in town for us in 7-on-7, he’s been fairly sharp.
“We need him to be a leader for us on offense and put us in situations to succeed, and he’s very capable of doing that.”
Other key players in 7-on-7 this summer include tight end Corey Rau, receivers Brandon Green, Jordan Onunaku and Colby Bradshaw, and defensive backs Austin Simmons and Jacob Smith.
Onunaku, up from JV, is one of several receivers who will have to step up this fall.
“He’s not a polished product yet, but he works extremely hard to improve and get better, and I appreciate that out of him, and a lot of the other guys,” Clayton said.
“They all are working to get better. They know there’s not much experience. Out of all the wide receivers, the experience we have back is one catch for nine yards.”
And the 7-on-7 state tournament is as perfect a venue as any to get the young Cougars the experience they need. Jason McDaniel is a freelance writer who can be reached at jasonrmcdaniel@outlook.com.