Steers 7on7 stays perfect at Mineral Wells qualifier News Staff Tue, 05/28/2024 - 10:34 am
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Senior receiver Harison Brockway (5) makes a leaping catch in the end zone and looks to keep his feet inbounds as he scores a touchdown during one of Graham’s 7on7 games in Mineral Wells last Saturday, May 25. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Senior defensive back Bruin Wright makes a play on a Mineral Wells receiver by getting him out of bounds during Graham’s first game at the state qualifying tournament Saturday, May 25 in Mineral Wells. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Sophomore Cooper Corley (1) battles with a Peaster receiver for a ball that Corley ultimately intercepted during one of Graham’s 7on7 games at the Mineral Wells State Qualifying Tournament this past Saturday, May 25. The Steers finished the day a perfect 3-0 in pool play after qualifying for the state tournament in their first competition the week before. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) The Graham Steers huddle and give a moment of prayer before one of their games at the Mineral Wells 7on7 state qualifying tournament last Saturday, May 25. The Steers went 3-0 on the day to keep their record perfect through two SQTs.
TC Gordon sports@grahamleader.com
After qualifying for the state 7on7 tournament last weekend in their first tournament of the summer, the Graham Steers kept their winning streak going at the Mineral Wells state qualifying tournament.
With their trip to the state tournament at the end of June already locked up, the Steers continued to get more work in without the pressure of needing to go perfect. However, the team showed up, once again, and dominated pool play, as they went a perfect 3-0 to remain unbeaten in seven games so far this season.
On a hot, humid day that started with a heavy fog before the sun burned through, the Steers faced Mineral Wells, Decatur and Peaster in that order. Graham’s biggest challenge came in the first game against the Rams in which they pulled out a 26-25 win. The Steers then took care of business against Decatur with a 34-21 victory and ended the day crushing Peaster 39-6.
Due to Graham’s qualification in their first SQT the week before, they had no need to play in the championship game. Mineral Wells finished next highest in Pool A but fell in the championship to Glen Rose, the Pool B winner. The Steers will continue their run of SQTs next Saturday, June 1 at Brownwood.
Steers v. Mineral Wells, (W) 26-25
The first game of the day for both teams was a battle for both sides. The result came down to the final minute as Graham pulled ahead on a late touchdown from senior Ty Thompson to senior Brayden Riggins.
Graham opened the scoring with an opening drive touchdown from Thompson to fellow senior Harison Brockway on a short slant route. The Steers came up empty on their next drive while Mineral Wells jumped ahead with their second score of the day to lead 13-7.
As the first half came to an end, Thompson connected with senior tight end Hayden Horn, who made a difficult catch over the defender’s head. Graham converted the extra point and led at halftime 14-13.
The rest of the game continued the back and forth affair between the two teams. The Rams scored first to retake the lead before the Steers answered with a 9-yard touchdown catch by Brockway.
However, Mineral Wells scored again on their next drive but failed the extra point as sophomore Cooper Corley broke up the pass to keep it at 25-20 in the Rams’ favor. In the final minutes, Thompson and the Steers headed down the field and the connection with Riggins gave them the lead and the first-game victory.
Steers v. Decatur, (W) 34-21
In their second game of the day, Graham kept the offense up while the defense made some key stops. The Steers took a 7-0 lead as Thompson connected with Riggins on both the touchdown and extra point.
Decatur tied the game up but it took one play for Graham to take the lead back. Thompson found Brockway streaking up the left sideline where he hauled the ball in for a 45-yard touchdown to make it 14-7. Both teams scored once more before halftime as Horn ran a wheel route on the left side for approximately a 20-yard touchdown and the Steers led 21-14 at halftime.
Graham’s defense stepped things up in the second half as they only allowed Decatur to score one more time but came up with three stops.
The Steers’ Horn and senior Jack McEntire caught the team’s two touchdowns in the half, and senior Mason Milton ended the game with a key pass breakup to secure Graham’s win.
Steers v. Peaster, (W) 39-6
The final game of pool play was all Graham on both sides of the ball. The Steers scored at will while the defense feasted, recording two interceptions and forcing multiple blown plays with their coverage.
Senior Rylan Monsey caught the first touchdown, a 10-yard catch, and on Peaster’s first play of their next drive, senior Ryder Taylor picked off the quarterback and ran it back for a touchdown. Though the Steers missed both extra points, they quickly led 12-0.
Peaster’s bad luck continued, as on the first play of their next drive Corley intercepted a ball to give the offense another chance. Two plays later, Thompson connected with Horn for a long 40-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline. The Steers converted the extra point and went into halftime leading 19-0.
In the second half, McEntire caught a 7-yard pass from Thompson to push the lead to 26-0 before Peaster got on the board with a 22-yard touchdown to make it 26-6.
The Steers scored a couple more times to push the lead to 39-6, and for good measure, junior Isaiah Flores made a shoestring interception to end the game.
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