7-on-7 competitions growing in popularity

By Barry Byers - Barry Byers

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More and more South Carolina high school football teams are participating in summer 7-on-7 passing competitions.

There was a time when summers were for conditioning only, and the number of teams that got together to throw the ball around could be counted on one hand.

Not anymore. Even Clover, which runs the wing-T offense and passes about as often as the Loch Ness monster surfaces, is joining the trend.

The Blue Eagles, winners of last year's Class AAAA Division II state championship, are in the field of 15 for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes 7-on-7 Tournament at Northwestern on Saturday.

"We've been going to some this summer because with all the players we lost, we need as much practices as we can get," Clover coach Jet Turner said. "We've never been to the one at Northwestern, so we are looking forward to it.

"Who knows? We might end up throwing the ball more this year. We certainly have some players who can go up and get it if we do."

The FCA/Northwestern tournament has a strong field, including Class A Division I state champion Chesterfield, coached by former USC quarterback Steve Taneyhill, Rock Hill, York, Nation Ford and South Pointe. South Pointe is picked to make a run at this year's Division II title.

Also in the field are Blythewood, 10-0 last season but banned from the playoffs, Ridge View and Spring Valley -- teams that will compete with Rock Hill and South Pointe in Region 4-AAAA this season -- Dorman, Chapman, Saluda and Weddington (N.C.).

Northwestern benefited heavily from its 7-on-7 competitions last season. Coach Jimmy Wallace, who returned to coaching after a two-year absence, brought in Kyle Richardson as his offensive coordinator.

Richardson, a former high school and college quarterback, is partial to the passing game and brought with him the "Air Raid" offense he learned from former Kentucky coach Hal Mumme.

The object is to spread the field and get rid of the football as soon as possible and let the receivers make plays. The run is rarely used. Richardson used last summer's tournaments and Northwestern's preseason scrimmages to get his offensive players familiar with his wide-open system.

They responded well. Quarterback Will King, who signed with Furman, passed for 3,395 yards and 41 touchdowns, while leading the Trojans to the Region 3-AAAA title and a 12-2 record.

The Trojans are looking for a new quarterback, and each candidate will get a long look until the one who can run the offense steps forward.

Wallace was unavailable Thursday. He and several other local coaches had their teams in North Carolina playing in a 7-on-7 at Catawba College.

Bill Warren, Northwestern's athletics director, said Saturday's tournament starts at 9:30 a.m., with pool play in the morning on four fields. Teams are seeded after pool play ends and start single-elimination play in the afternoon to determine the champion.

There is no admission charge and the public is invited to attend.