SPRINGDALE -- A scheduling quirk has led to a pair of top local teams skipping out on the annual Southwest Elite 7-on-7 Showcase at Shiloh Christian.
With July 4 falling on a Monday, the Arkansas Activities Association-mandated two-week dead period ended later in the summer than normal, causing Shiloh Christian's event to overlap with the National Select 7on7 Championship in Hoover, Ala.
Although Fayetteville, last year's Class 7A state champion, and Springdale Har-Ber, the 7A runner-up, will be in Hoover, Saints coach Jeff Conaway said he doesn't think that means this weekend's tournament is watered down. Fayetteville and Har-Ber met in the championship game of the Southwest Elite tournament last year.
"If affected us a little bit, but we were able to pick up Jenks and Broken Arrow out of Oklahoma," Conaway said. "Not that those teams are any better than Har-Ber and Fayetteville, but we still feel like we're going to be fine."
Despite the absence of two Arkansas power programs, Shiloh still managed to put together a solid 32-team field. Fayetteville and Har-Ber are sending their junior varsity squads, while the other 30 teams come from eight states and include five defending state champions.
Jenks has won four straight state titles in Oklahoma's largest classification, Bixby and Heritage Hall are coming off back-to-back championships in lower classifications in Oklahoma, and Derby and Mill Valley won titles in Kansas.
"It's a very well-run tournament and that's what coaches want," Conaway said. "They want everyone taken care of and I really believe that's why this tournament does well."
The tournament will also give several inexperienced quarterbacks a chance to work on timing with their receivers.
Three-year starter Kasey Ford is gone at Bentonville, as are Springdale's Jack Lindsey and Rogers Heritage's Jake Qualls. Rogers is implementing the spread offense with a new coach after running the triple-option the last several years, and Bentonville West is breaking in a sophomore quarterback in its inaugural season.
One local team without any question marks at quarterback, though, is the host school. Shiloh Christian senior Connor Reece is entering his third season as the Saints' starter, completing 61 percent of his passes for 2,622 yards and 24 touchdowns last year.
"He can take charge and lead our receivers," Conaway said. "He makes great decisions and he's accurate with the football. Playing 7-on-7 with a third-year starter is fun."
Other top quarterbacks include Bixby's Tanner Griffin, an Oklahoma State commit, and Lutheran North's Aqueel Glass, a Florida International commit.
Players to watch outside of the quarterback position are Jenks running back/defensive back Jordon Curtis, who is committed to Arkansas, and Liberty Tech safety Alec Long, who has several SEC offers.
"We're in the middle of July," Conaway said. "There are a lot of folks excited about football season and if they want a little taste, Friday and Saturday at Shiloh is the place to be to get that taste.
"It's not real football and we don't claim that it's real football, but it's as close as we can get."
Sports on 07/15/2016