The Texas Panhandle is going to have quite the representation at the 27th annual 7-on-7 State Football Tournament which begins Thursday at Veterans Park in College Station.
Palo Duro, Dumas, Sunray and Hale Center and newcomer Muleshoe make up the Amarillo-area that compete across three divisions of 128 teams.
Dumas, Sunray and Hale Center kick off action with pool play Thursday with Palo Duro starting Friday. Following pool play the teams then go to a one-game elimination bracket format to decide a champion in their respective division.
Dumas is the flag bearer when it comes to trips to College Station. Head coach Aaron Dunnam and the Demons have always invested in 7-on-7. This will be a sixth straight trip for Dumas, which finished as a state runner-up in Division II last season.
“It’s an opportunity to compete more than anything,” Dunnam said. “If have the opportunity to compete and get the athletic program better in any way, we’re going to take advantage of that. It also keeps the guys involved other than summer workouts and helps the skill guys develop.”
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Dumas opens Division II pool play taking on Paris, China Springs and Cuero. Three squads they’d rarely get an opportunity to challenge in 11-man.
“These teams in the pool we’re in go deep in the playoffs during the football season,” Dunnam said. “We never see them in person. We either read about them or see video on social media. We’re excited about that, and we love to see these teams from across the state and see how we compare.”
Like Dumas, Sunray is becoming a regular staple at the 7-on-7 State Tournament as the Bobcats will make their third straight appearance. Sunray qualified at the Sudan 7-on-7 Tournament.
This is a much different Bobcat team that has traveled the past two years. Sunray lost a senior-heavy team that won 24 games the past two years returning only four starters.
“We’re excited we got back to this 7-on-7 Tournament,” Sunray head coach Wes Boatmun said. “We have a bunch of new guys that have been waiting for their opportunity. We have a new quarterback in Zeke Grajeda that will be a junior and he’s ready to go and a lot of freshman and sophomores that need experience. Getting to play in something as showcase as this is something a young team needs.”
Sunray will be in Division III playing against Wallis Brazos, Lexington and Sonora during Thursday’s pool play.
There are a couple of newcomers to College Station.
The Palo Duro Dons are hoping this is the beginning of something special in 2025. For the first time in a long time, expectations surround Palo Duro with a veteran group returning highlighted by quarterback Julian Reese II and the versatile Division I prospect Darien Lewis.
The Dons had quite the battle to earn a trip to the 7-on-7 State Tournament qualifying in Tyler by beating some stacked competition.
“This is really exciting for us,” Palo Duro head coach Eric Mims said. “This was a summer goal and we earned it. We had to beat teams like Lufkin and Longview to get here and that is giving us a lot of confidence. We know there aren’t pads or helmets but playing 7-on-7 is helping us build confidence for what we hope is a big fall season. We also are going to enjoy the team camaraderie while we’re on the road. I think that will help us all get closer together.”
Palo Duro will be in Division I and will take on Azle, The Woodlands and Westwood in pool play starting Friday.
Hale Center continues to re-write the record books after last season and now into the summer. The Owls won the programs first district title in 29 years last October and then won the school’s first playoff game in 39 years in November.
Head coach Marc Puente’s team can now check off another box by making the first appearance at the 7-on-7 State Tournament after winning the Sudan Qualifier a few weeks ago.
“We love giving our players opportunities they’ve never gotten before,” Puente said. “We also love adding another first to the football program. It’s been fun to see these guys compete and it will be fun to see the competition we get to face. We’re so used to just playing teams around here. This will push our team to another level and bring us all closer together.”
Hale Center will be in Division III opening pool play up with Ganado, Goldthwaite and Trinity.
Texas Panhandle 7-on-7 State Tournament Schedules
All games at Veterans Park, College Station
DIVISION I
Palo Duro Dons pool play
Friday’s games
Palo Duro vs. Azle, 1 p.m.
Palo Duro vs. The Woodlands, 2:30 p.m.
|Palo Duro vs. Westwood, 4 p.m.
DIVISION II
Dumas Demons pool play
Thursday’s games
Dumas vs. Paris, 10:45 a.m.
Dumas vs. China Springs, 12:15 p.m.
Dumas vs. Cuero, 1:45 p.m.
DIVISION III
Sunray Bobcats pool play
Thursday’s games
Sunray vs. Wallis Brazos, 10 a.m.
Sunray vs. Lexington, 11:30 a.m.
Sunray vs. Sonora, 1 p.m.
Hale Center Owls pool play
Thursday’s games
Hale Center vs. Trinity, 10 a.m.
Hale Center vs. Ganado, 11:30 a.m.
Hale Center vs. Goldthwaite, 1 p.m.