7-on-7 success doesn’t translate to fall
The annual Texas state 7-on-7 tournament will be held Thursday through Saturday at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Station. There will be 128 teams competing across three divisions, including 24 from the Houston area. What to watch:
Houston area aiming for more hardware
Houston-area teams have won seven state 7-on-7 championships since the inaugural tournament in 1998. The most recent team to accomplish that feat was Class 3A East Bernard last summer as the Brahmas captured the Division III title. East Bernard went on to a 9-3 season in the fall and lost in the second round of the playoffs.
No local squad has won the Division I crown since The Woodlands in 2016. The Highlanders went on to have a prolific season in the passing game with quarterback Eric Schmid and receiver KeSean Carter leading the way. The team went 15-1 that fall and ultimately lost to Lake Travis in the Class 6A Division I state title game in Arlington.
The other Houston-area state champions over the years are Baytown Lee (2001, 2005), Cinco Ranch (2002), Seven Lakes (2014) and Navasota (2015).
No state 7-on-7? No problem
While success in 7-on-7 has some value, it doesn’t necessarily equate to success during the fall for a multitude of reasons.
When it comes to the Houston area, there is no better example than the reigning 6A Division I state champions — the North Shore Mustangs. North Shore has never qualified for a state 7on-7 tournament, and the Mustangs won’t be there this year either.
But coach Jon Kay and company have won three of the past four state titles and will enter the fall ranked as the No. 10 team in
the country by MaxPreps.
Paetow, which is moving up to Class 6A this year under new head coach Lonnie Teagle, won the 5A Division I championship
last season without qualifying for the state 7-on-7 tournament during the summer. The Panthers will not be participating this year, either.
Only one of the six state champions from 4A, 5A and 6A qualified for state 7-on-7 last year. China Spring was the lone program to accomplish both.
Top local players to watch
There will no shortage of talent and several highly touted players from the Houston area will be on the fields competing.
Eisenhower, which is making its second appearance since 2019, has four-star receiver Ryan Niblett leading its offense. Niblett is committed to Texas and is the No. 10 overall recruit in the state, according to the 247Sports composite rankings for the class of 2023.
There are several other notable players from the 2024 class that will be in attendance as well. That group is led by Willis quarterback D.J. Lagway, who comes in at No. 6 in his class among Texas recruits.
Shadow Creek safety Maurice Williams, an LSU commit, is No. 8 on the same list, and Hightower running back Jeremy Payne comes in at No. 32. Another signal-caller to watch is The Woodlands’ Mabrey Mettauer, who checks in at No. 45. He has a new target in rising sophomore and Division I recruit Quanell X Farrakhan Jr., who transferred across the highway from Grand Oaks.
Other players from around the state to watch include DeSoto receiver Johntay Cook II, Longview receiver Jalen Hale, Coppell safety Braxton Myers and Flower Mound Marcus receiver Ashton Cozart, all of whom are fourstar recruits in the class of 2023.
Summer heat wave adds to intensity
Players, coaches and fans will need to take caution this week with forecasted temperatures reaching into triple digits. There is no entry fee for spectators, and teams are encouraged to bring tents and their own water and Gatorade supply, although there will be some hydration options provided on site.
For more information about the tournament, visit the official website at texasfootball.com/7on7.