Hays quarterback Caleb Kimbro tried to rally the Rebels from a 17-point deficit against Pflugerville, but the Rebs came up short in a 29-18 loss in the Red Bull Game Breakers regional qualifier. Hays went on to lose to Manor in the double-elimination tournament. (Photo by Wes Ferguson)
by WES FERGUSON
Coach John Kimbro turned a disappointing afternoon into a teaching moment for the Hays Rebels’ 7-on-7 squad last week.
The Rebels hadn’t practiced before the Red Bull Game Breakers regional qualifier on June 19, a one-day tournament featuring 20 teams at 5-Mile Dam. A late addition to the event, Hays didn’t even know whether it would be allowed to compete until minutes before the tournament began.
The lack of preparation showed as the Rebels fell in their first matchup 29-18 to Pflugerville and lost again to Manor 24-8 in double elimination.
“If you don’t work, don’t practice and don’t know your plays, should you win?” Kimbro asked his players late in the Manor game. “No. Most of the time in life you get what you put into it.”
Kimbro saw the outcome as a helpful reminder for the players to remain focused as they look to build on last year’s success and battle deeper into the playoffs in 2012. Another district title certainly won’t be handed to them, he said.
In the Rebels’ first tournament game against Pflugerville, quarterback Caleb Kimbro tried to rally his team from an 18-1 deficit late in the first half following two touchdown strikes by the Panthers’ Blain Kruemcke. Kimbro unleashed a 30-yard bomb to his primary target of the day, Jackson Schaubhut, but the ball sailed just past his fingertips.
Kimbro had more luck on Hays’ next possession, opening the second half with a 20-yard completion to Schaubhut, then threading a tight spiral through the Panthers’ secondary to find Schaubhut over the middle for the Rebels’ first touchdown.
The Hays wide receiver has been catching passes from Kimbro for years, he said.
“We were a little off today, but Caleb and I always have a good connection,” Schaubhut said. “We know what the other is thinking.”
Krumecke immediately responded with his second end zone strike to Panthers wide receiver Caleb Horton, playing on the shortened 7-on-7 field. Kimbro then went to work on the Rebels’ final drive of the 10-minute half, connecting with Thorne Spears and Schaubhut to quickly move the chains before finding Spears, a junior who will move up to varsity this fall, for a short touchdown grab.
Rebels defender Daniel Valdez kept Pflugerville off the scoreboard on its final drive when he picked off Kruemcke’s pass in the end zone as time expired.
Hays’ second game against Manor turned into a defensive struggle, with neither offense finding a rhythm. The Rebels did not score a touchdown in the loss; their total of eight points all came as points rewarded for first downs and defensive stops. Defender Jared Rodriguez led the way for Hays with several deflections and an interception.
“I think we’re playing really good considering we didn’t get to practice,” Rodriguez said.
Round Rock Stony Point won the tournament and will compete at the Red Bull national tourney next month in Dallas.
With an eye on the ultimate goal of a UIL state championship, the Hays football program has downplayed 7-on-7 this summer to focus on strength and conditioning and to allow some key players to recover from injuries. Tuesday’s event could be the only 7-on-7 action of the summer for Hays, which has not scheduled any other games and is not trying to qualify for the annual State 7-on-7 Tournament in College Station in July. The Rebels competed in the State 7-on-7 Tournament in 2004-06, 2009 and 2011.
