Hays receiver/running back Taven Mayberry catches a pass during a recent 7-on-7 tournament. Mayberry and his Rebel teammates will be looking to make a splash at the State 7-on-7 Tournament Friday in College Station, where Hays will take on DeSoto, Houston Lamar and Montgomery in pool play. The Rebs qualified for state for the first time since 2009 with a runner-up finish at the Alamo Heights Tournament earlier this year. (Photo by Judy Cooper)
by JASON GORDON
Hays High mowed down perennial playoff powers San Antonio Clark, San Antonio Madison and host school Alamo Heights to qualify for the State 7-on-7 Tournament last month.
When the Rebels begin play in the state tourney Friday in College Station on the Texas A&M practice fields, Hays will face even bigger challenges.
Hays will take on 2010 Class 5A Division I quarterfinalist DeSoto, Houston Lamar, the District 20-5A champions last season, and Montgomery, which went 12-2 last year and advanced four rounds deep in the Class 4A Division I playoffs, in pool play on Friday.
The three teams Hays will face in pool play won a combined 32 games, including six playoff games last fall.
Hays’ first game will take place against DeSoto on Friday at 2 p.m.
“Everybody’s going to be good at this level,” said Hays 7-on-7 coach Larry Schaubhut. “We want to get there and enjoy the competition and hopefully win a few games. We’ve already played a few of the top teams in the state this summer, including Lake Travis and Klein Forest, and we went on a great run in the Alamo Heights Tournament to get here, so we know what it’s like to play very good competition.”
Hays last made it to state in 2009, where the Rebels won one game in pool play and then lost in the first game of consolation bracket play.
In 2006, the last year of back-to-back-to-back State 7-on-7 Tournament appearances for Hays, the Rebels advanced to the championship bracket where they narrowly lost to Abilene High.
Out of the 64 teams that qualified for pool play on Friday, half will advance to the championship bracket and half will advance to the consolation bracket Saturday where it will be single elimination from there.
Both the championship and consolation bracket finals are scheduled to take place late Saturday afternoon.
“It’s definitely our goal to go to the championship bracket,” said Hays senior slot receiver Michael Romero. “We want to show Coach Feldt what we’re made of.”
Romero said the fact Hays hasn’t had much recent success at the tournament may actually be an advantage.
“If anyone thinks they are better than us we are going to surprise them,” Romero said. “Our goal is definitely to go to state and win it.”
Fellow Hays senior receiver Mason Cervenka agrees.
“I think a few teams may overlook us,” Cervenka said, “but we have some good athletes too and I think we have a chance to go far in the tournament. We expected to play great teams. It will be a good chance for us to get stronger as a team and playing against tough competition that has proven itself in the playoffs will only make us better this fall.”
Schaubhut said he wouldn’t be surprised to see Hays in the championship bracket Saturday.
“We need people to step up and make big plays,” Schaubhut said. “I think our offense can keep up with anyone. If we get a few stops and a few picks on defense, I think we have a great chance to do well.”
