SPRINGDALE -- A field of 32 teams will open play today in the annual Southwest Elite 7-on-7 Showcase at Shiloh Christian, and tournament officials have already had to scramble.
The tournament, in its seventh year, originally was scheduled to be played at Shiloh Christian and Springdale high schools, but rain in Northwest Arkansas on Wednesday and Thursday has forced tournament officials to find additional locations after the grass playing fields at Shiloh Christian were deemed unplayable.
At a glance
WHEN Today-Saturday
TIME 9 a.m.-5 p.m
WHERE At Shiloh Christian, Springdale High, Rogers High and Fayetteville High
SCHEDULE elite7on7.com
Now the tournament will be played at Shiloh Christian, Springdale High, Rogers High and Fayetteville.
"We are moving everything to turfed fields," Shiloh Christian Athletic Director Jeff Conaway said Thursday night. "Everything should get played on time, but it's been hectic for sure trying to get fields lined up."
The tournament, which expanded to 32 teams three years ago, will feature teams from across the region. Conaway said more schools are starting to host 7-on-7 events as passing tournaments continue to increase in popularity.
In 7-on-7, the quarterback has four seconds after the ball is snapped to make a pass. Only passing is allowed, and the length of the games are 25 minutes.
"It's not real football and everyone knows that, but it's a chance for your quarterbacks and receivers to get reps and that's beneficial," Conaway said. "We do what we can to try and simulate game-type situations, but the best thing about these deals is that linebackers and defensive backs get their work in and the skill players get reps in the summer."
"Really what 7-on-7 is, we're taking a small piece out of Friday nights and working just a few things."
More than 400 athletes are expected to compete in the tournament, Conaway said.
Among the players to watch are Shiloh Christian quarterback Connor Reece, a rising junior who passed for more than 2,000 yards as a sophomore, Bentonville senior quarterback Kasey Ford, who has led the Tigers to back-to-back Class 7A state championships, Fayetteville quarterback Taylor Powell, another rising junior who led the Bulldogs to the Class 7A state final last season, and Stillwater (Okla.) wide receiver Jordan Brown.
One team new to this year's field is Rogers High, which has operated out of a triple-option attack the past several seasons and has thrown sparingly. The Mounties are hoping to throw a little more this season, Coach Shawn Flannigan said.
"We are having to learn to read and throw and catch again," Flannigan said. "If we want to have any capabilities of throwing the football successfully during the season, this is a good jumping off point to see where we are at and what we need to do."
Senior Joseph Sultemeier and junior Max Horton will alternate at quarterback for the Mounties. Horton did not play football last year.
Action begins at 9 a.m. today at all four stadiums. The 32 teams are divided into four pools of eight teams. Each team will play five pool games today to determine seeding for Saturday's tournament bracket. The tournament is double-elimination, and the championship game is scheduled for 5 p.m. in Champions Stadium.
Harrison is the defending tournament champion but will not return to try to defend its title.
Sports on 07/10/2015