7v7 The Challenge National Qualifier Wrap Up
– Dough Pugh
There have been many reasons to nitpick (justifiably so) at the 7v7 circuit and its overall effectiveness throughout the recent years, but two of the reasons NOT to have a go at the events is the idea of competition and the benefits of repetition. These principles were in full-bloom on a windy and HOT sunny afternoon at the “The Challenge” NFA 7v7 National Qualifier at Larry Sanders Sports Complex, and the local talent on the teams participating gave the folks what they wanted. Here are the “Dirty Dozen” from the event; aka twelve young men that stood out.
Team Unsigned Preps had the biggest collection of standouts; especially during pool play. Alonso QB Chris Oladokun gave Team Tampa the business paired up with Tampa Bay Tech’s Deion Cain and Isaac Holder from Sickles. The 2016 signal-caller hit Holder (who was virtually catching everything within a radius of Hillsborough County) on the first play of the game in-stride, then rinse-and-repeated on the next series before folks could grab another bottle of water from their coolers. Cain was Randy Moss-ing unsuspecting DB’s most of the day, but some his prettiest work came in the same contest catching dimes while striding away effortlessly on seams and verts.
The defending national champions (Team Tampa) were strong in pool play and during the same game in which the Unsigned Preps crew went off, Berkeley Prep’s Brad Mayes hit Lakewood WR Ryan Davis on a beautiful touch-pass to the corner, as well as Wharton’s Auden Tate on an out-route to the front corner of the pylon showing off his skill set. Both Davis and Tate were beasts throughout the day.
Team Tampa Too was pleased to have Armwood LB/DE Byron Cowart’s presence. The 6-3, 257lb defensive specialist was basically used as a cheat code on Madden by Hillsborough QB Dwayne Lawson on offense. When you put Lawson’s 6-6, 215lb-frame in the equation it doesn’t matter whether it’s shorts or in pads. You lose. Not to be outdone was 2016 prospect Trevor Laurent from Armwood who was doing his best Isaac Holder impersonation in the championship game.
Other dudes showing their best were Plant City’s Tavares Chase from Team Elite Next Level, who used his 6-2, 180lb frame to climb over DB’s and make plays along with Durant’s QB Erick Davis from GNG Elite. Demetrius Mann from King, the MVP-winner out of the DB’s from Ignite representing Elite Next Level was also making life tough on the defensive side of things with an INT in pool play and several pass break-ups.