IMG Press Release –

Team Tampa repeats as IMG7v7 National Champions over South Florida Express Elite

“T’s up!” was the refrain as Team Tampa (Tampa, Fla.) hoisted the IMG7v7 National Championship trophy for the second straight year. The team, comprised of the best players in the Tampa-area, was single-mindedly focused on the task at hand after entering the bracket tournament as the No. 7 seed. At the end of the day on Sunday, all that stood in their way of repeating as National Champions was Miami, Fla.’s South Florida Express Elite. Behind the laser accuracy of quarterback Chase Litton (Wharton HS, Tampa, Fla.), Team Tampa was able to eke out a close victory over the powerhouse Express, 25-24.

“It feels great, representing Team Tampa – these guys, the best talent in the world is on my team, and we were disappointed after the [IMG7v7] Southeast Regional, so we came out to make a statement this time,” said Litton after the win.

Litton was on fire, completing pass after pass to a receiving corps that included the likes of East Lake High School’s (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) Artavis Scott and George Campbell. Most importantly, Litton only missed four passes in the title game, and his performance included zero turnovers.

“Chase is consistent, and that’s one thing I always told him, ‘you don’t have to be great, just be consistent,’ and that’s what he did,” said Team Tampa Head Coach Woodrow Grady. “7v7 is about being consistent, and having a quarterback that’s very accurate, and knows how to read [defenses], and not stare down receivers.”

Grady was also quick to laud the performance of defensive back Aaron Covington (Armwood HS, Seffner, Fla.), who made several clutch plays and forced key turnovers when the team needed them most throughout the tournament.

However, Team Tampa had to overcome major challenges throughout the day. In the third round, they bested the No. 2 seeded Central Florida Top Recruits, led by RB Isaiah Ford (Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, Fla.) and CB Duke Dawson (Dixie County HS, Cross City, Fla.) by a score of 17-15. In the quarterfinals, they had to fend off the fierce Team Delaware, who made their first appearance in the IMG7v7 National Championship with the stellar play of Boston College commitment, QB Darius Wade (Middletown HS, Middletown, Del.) and CB Imani Jones (McKean HS, Wilmington, Del.). Finally, in the winner’s bracket semifinals, Team Tampa sent the Express to the loser’s bracket by a score of 31-24.

“When you playing, no matter what level, and you won the championship the previous year, you’re a target,” coach Grady remarked. “Every game, everybody was coming at us. It’s tougher to win back-to-back, because every game, everybody wants to knock you off.”

The runner up, the No. 1 seeded South Florida Express Elite, made their own impressive run to the final. The Express began the day with three consecutive wins, highlighted by a drubbing of rival Miami, Fla. squad, the South Florida Fire, by a 49-14 margin. After falling to the loser’s bracket, the Express had to overcome a major obstacle in AWP Sports, the No. 4 seed out of Ft. Wayne, Ind. AWP had been on a roll, led by DB Drue Tranquill (Caroll HS, Ft. Wayne, Ind.) and QB David Morrison (Concordia HS, Ft. Wayne, Ind.), but their tournament run came to an end at the hands of the Express, 34-28.