Steers face gauntlet at 7on7 state tourney, fall in round of 16 News Staff Mon, 07/01/2024 - 3:28 pm
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham running back Rylan Monsey tries to extend a few yards after getting downed near the sideline during one of the Steers’ 7on7 games earlier this season. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham quarterback Ty Thompson sets himself and fires a throw to one of his receivers during a 7on7 game earlier in the SQT season. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Steers wide receiver Harison Brockway leaps in the corner of the end zone and reaches to haul in a pass at the Mineral Wells SQT earlier this season. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Defensive back Bruin Wright (10) reaches to down a Ponder receiver in a game Graham won during one of their final SQTs. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham’s offense huddles and figures out the plan before running a play in one of their state qualifier tournaments in Clyde near the beginning of June. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Defensive back Santiago Zamora reaches for a ball carrier to down him during one of Graham’s games earlier this SQT season.
TC Gordon sports@grahamleader.com
Leading up to the 2024 Texas State 7on7 Tournament, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Insider Matt Stepp called pool H, the one Graham was set to play in, “easily the pool of death.”
Pool H of Division II, an accumulation of all 4A schools, 3A Division I and some private schools, “pound for pound might be the best pool in the entire tournament,” Stepp said.
While it may have been an unlucky draw, the Graham Steers went 1-2 in pool play and salvaged a win in the first round of bracket play before they ultimately saw their tournament run end in the second round.
The pool of death was an apt description for Graham and its competitors. The Steers went up against the Kilgore Bulldogs, the Dallas Kimball Knights and the Hamshire-Fannett Longhorns.
Although 7on7 is a different beast than regular 11-man football with pads on, many skills translate and can lead to success and failure on the field. All four teams in pool H were recently given preseason top 25 rankings by DCTF for the 2024 season.
Kilgore came in ranked the highest as fifth place in 4A DI, Dallas Kimball earned a 20th-place selection in 4A DI, Graham was placed ninth in 4A DII and Hamshire-Fannett came in slightly further back at 13th in DII.
Graham and Dallas Kimball both fell in the round of 16, sometimes referred to as the “Sweet 16,” but Kilgore and Hamshire-Fannett both reached the Final Four, where the Longhorns took down the Bulldogs and proceeded to win the 7on7 DII championship.
Not only was Graham faced with a gauntlet in pool play, but after the Steers defeated Robinson in the first round of bracket play, they matched up with the Dumas Demons, who were the state runners-up after later losing to Hamshire-Fannett in the championship.
Suffice to say the odds may have been slightly stacked against the Steers in this year’s competition. The level of competition, combined with weather problems which forced the third game of pool play to be played early Friday morning, made things difficult as Graham looked to win their first 7on7 championship since last doing so in 2017.
Coming into the 2024 state tournament, the Steers had flashed brilliance throughout their state qualifying tournament (SQT) season. Graham competed in four SQTs and finished with an overall record of 12-1 while qualifying for state in their first competition.
The team had nearly two weeks from their last SQT to the start of the state tournament, but the Steers looked confident in every game all season, including their one loss to Stephenville.
Graham kicked off pool play Thursday, June 27 with a rematch against the team that knocked them out of the tournament last year in Hamshire-Fannett. The Longhorns came reloaded and in an offensive battle, the Steers took a 40-27 loss.
Not long after that, the offense slowed as Graham and Kilgore’s defenses battled it out with the Bulldogs taking a 19-14 win which moved the Steers to 0-2. College Station saw lightning storms which forced the postponement of the third games of pool play to the morning of Friday, June 28.
On that morning, Graham did just enough to secure at least one win in pool play with a 12-7 victory over Dallas Kimball. The Steers finished pool play 1-2 and in third place as teams moved to bracket play.
Graham matched up with the Robinson Rockets and returned to form with a 28-14 win to move into the Sweet 16, where they met the Dumas Demons.
These two teams knew each other well, as the Steers had defeated the Demons in the championship game of their first SQT this season to punch their ticket to the state tournament.
Dumas got the better of Graham in this round two match-up in an 18-7 win that ended the Steers’ tournament hopes.
While 7on7 results have no real impact on the fall season, it’s an opportunity to practice and formulate chemistry among teammates. Although Graham’s run ended prematurely, the Steers improved in many areas and found things to work on as they prepare for fall camp and a shot at a true state championship this year.
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