High School Sports

By CHRIS PARRY
Staff Writer

COLLEGE STATION — Tyler’s 7-on-7 football teams cleared their first hurdle Friday at the FSN Southwest 7-on-7 State Tournament.

Now John Tyler and Robert E. Lee set their sights on a bigger prize – a state title.

The Lions will face Baytown Lee with the Red Raiders set to tangle with Katy Seven Lakes at 9 a.m. today in the first round of the single elimination championship bracket at Texas A&M’s Penberthy Fields.

JT and Lee reached this point by taking care of business Friday in pool play.

The Lions began with wins over Spring (40-21) and Katy Cinco Ranch (34-22). This clinched at least second place for JT in Pool B, giving the Lions a spot in the championship bracket. The Lions lost to Arlington Lamar (36-0) in their final pool game to finish second.

“I was really impressed with our first two games,” said JT coach Reginald Coleman. “I really didn’t know what to expect going into this thing. The guys had that ready to take care of business look.

“I was happy until that last game. Our guys kind of laid down and we didn’t do the things we had been doing.”

Lee overmatched Brady (34-12) in its first Pool L contest, but a loss to Richland (35-26) in its second game forced a must-win for REL in its finale against Cypress Falls. After a close first half, REL ran away with a 39-20 win.

“We had to beat Cy Falls to get into the championship bracket and we really should’ve beat Richland,” said Lee head coach Randy Womble. “But they did a great job of showing a lot of intensity and taking care of business.”

This marks the third time in five years that both JT and Lee have advanced to the championship bracket. The last occurred in 2006 when both Tyler teams were stopped in the first round. Two years earlier though in ‘04, Lee and JT built on their Day 1 success with JT reaching the quarterfinals and Lee winning it all.

“From here on you play hard and hope you get a few breaks along the way,” Womble said of today’s task. “And I feel pretty good about our chances to win some games (today).”

John Tyler continued its streak of making it into the championship bracket. The Lions have participated in state five times, and every year the Lions have advanced out of pool play into the championship bracket.

But Coleman said his staff and the players want more.

“Just making the winner’s bracket I am not satisfied because we can match up with any team out here,” Coleman said. “We just have to stay focused; regardless of whom we’re playing, or when it is, or how hot it is.”

John Tyler quarterback Jeremy Johnson was letter perfect in the Lions’ first two games, combining for 12 touchdowns and one interception. Johnson spread the scoring wealth to seven different receivers in the win over Spring. Against Cinco Ranch, Johnson hooked up with Ky’Ordric Black three times while also putting DeTrich Morgan and Ricky Collins in the end zone. JT was held down in the third game, reaching the red zone in each half, but was stopped on fourth-and-goal both times.

Lee quarterback Luke Wagner finished with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions on the afternoon. Wagner also used several different receivers, led by K.J. Jones, who caught four touchdowns. Teammates Da Da Brown, Steven Ragin and Joey Turner each found paydirt three times with Derell Tate scoring twice.

A back-and-forth affair turned in the Lions’ favor, thanks to one long pass play and relentless defense. JT trailed 21-20 at the start of the second half, but forced a three-and-out from Spring to get the ball. After two short pass plays, the Lions faced third and a yard. But instead of going the short route, like Spring anticipated, Collins snuck down the sidelines uncovered and Johnson hit him for a 40-yard score. Now trailing 27-21, Spring tried to answer, but was turned away on fourth-and-goal by JT with Billy Thompkins knocking down the pass in the end zone. JT took control for good on its next possession with Dominic Ward making a diving catch.

The Red Raiders’ defense blanked Brady until late in the second half while the offense scored on their first four possessions to lead 28-0 at halftime. Lee’s Bayley Florence intercepted a pass in the end zone to thwart one Brady drive. The others were stopped on three-and-outs. In the second half, Brady got on the board with a long touchdown pass, but REL responded with a 40-yard strike of its own as Wagner connected with Tate to make it 34-6.

Both teams entered this contest 1-0, meaning the winner would assure themselves a championship bracket slot. JT and Cinco Ranch traded touchdowns for most of the first half until JT forced a three-and-out and scored just before halftime on a pass from Johnson to Black to make it 21-14. An interception by Thompkins enabled JT to get the ball early in the second half and double its lead on a scoring pass to Collins. Another defensive hold by JT was rewarded when the Lions drove down to put the game away. Johnson rifled a touchdown pass to Black and Courtland Nickelberry caught the conversion for a 34-14 lead.

This contest between 1-0 teams reversed in the second half because of Lee turnovers. The Red Raiders led 20-14 at halftime, thanks to a scoring strike from Wagner to Brown. REL nearly doubled its lead to 26-14 at the start of the second half when Wagner found Tate in the end zone. It was all Richland after that. The Rebels picked off Wagner twice and stopped the Red Raiders on fourth-and-goal en route to the comeback win.

Lamar had everything to play for, needing a win to make the championship bracket. The tourney favorites played like it, dominating the Lions from the opening whistle. Lamar led 21-0 late in the first half before stopping the Lions on fourth-and-goal just before halftime. Lamar continued to add to its lead in the second half.

Both Lee and Cy-Falls were 1-1 entering this final pool play game, meaning it was winner-take-all. Neither team mustered much in the first half as Lee held a 13-12 lead at the break. The Red Raiders turned up the heat in the second half with Wagner connecting with Jones and Turner on touchdowns. Meanwhile, REL’s defense forced Cy Falls into consecutive three-and-outs. A third unanswered score, this one from Brown, made it 32-12 and gave REL all the cushion it needed to close out the game.