Weeks of qualifying tournaments have separated contenders from pretenders and now it has come to this:
Twenty-two high school 7-on-7 football teams from across the country will descend on Dallas, more specifically SMU’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium in University Park on Friday and Saturday to determine the 2011 Red Bull Game Breakers champion.
Texas, a state where high school football has long been revered, will be represented by 16 teams in the Finals.
States with two teams in the Finals include Louisiana (which produced the first Game Breakers champion a year ago,) and Florida.
Oklahoma, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Alabama have one entrant each.
Double-elimination play begins at 3 p.m. Friday.
Play resumes at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, culminating in the crowning of a champion.
In the 14 years since 7-on-7 football was approved for Texas public schools, popularity has grown through the roof. Even schools that don’t throw the ball much during the fall find a way to succeed in the all-pass summer game.
Arlington Martin, winner of the qualifier in Fort Worth, Texas on June 14, is an example.
“The great thing about 7-on-7, yes, kids can improve individually,” said Martin coach Bob Wager, “but they also work together as a team, building a bond.
“One of the things we enjoy in the Red Bull competition is the rule changes. Being able to rush the quarterback on third down; that allows us to get one more player involved. That’s always a good thing.”
The popularity of 7-on-7 football has given rise to more events. At the same time the Red Bull Game Breakers Finals will be contested, a Texas state tournament will be going on 185 miles to the south in College Station.
Martin qualified for both and had its pick.
“Both tournaments are great and it’s good that teams have an option,” Wager said. “We left it up to our kids. It was a pretty one-sided vote. For us, Dallas is close. Our kids can sleep in their own beds. They like playing close to home. And there’s no charge to play.”
Wager does express concern about a recent trend of putting all-star 7-on-7 teams together for a summer.
“The unique thing about high school is playing alongside the same kid you’ve gone to school with since kindergarten. Why would anyone want to go play with an all-star team?”
New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush, a Red Bull Game Breakers supporter, is scheduled to make a tournament appearance on Friday.
Red Bull Game Breakers Finalists by State:
Alabama: Birmingham Erwin
Colorado: Grand Junction
Florida: Miami Columbus
Louisiana: New Orleans O Perry Walker, Shreveport Evangel Christian
Oklahoma: Tulsa Metro Christian Academy
Pennsylvania: Clairton
Texas: Aledo, Arlington Martin, Arlington Seguin, Cedar Hill, Austin LBJ, Cypress-Fairbanks, Highland Park, Houston Westside, Mesquite West Mesquite, North Richland Hills Richland, Pearland Dawson, Round Rock Stony Point, San Antonio Roosevelt, Manvel, Somerset.
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