MISSION — Since 1998, the Texas State 7-on-7 Organization has hosted an annual state tournament in College Station, giving high school athletes an opportunity to compete during the summer.
The qualifying tournaments leading up to the state championships allows some teams a chance for returning starters to continue to build their chemistry for the fall. For others, the competition is a first look at their new man behind center.
Twenty-four teams got a taste of the upcoming season Saturday during the state-qualifying Sharyland Snake Pit Classic tournament, with the three available state bids all going to Valley teams as McAllen Rowe, Sharyland High and San Benito each punched their ticket to the 2022 Texas State 7-on-7 tournament slated for June 23-25 at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Station.
AT SHARYLAND PIONEER
McAllen Rowe suffered a heavy loss during the offseason, with quarterback Mateo Llanas — who accounted for 2,538 yards and 24 touchdowns through the air—graduating.
During Saturday’s Bracket C state qualifying game, the Warriors got a first look at Llanas’ possible replacement, with junior Lance Salinas tossing a pair of touchdowns to help punch McAllen Rowe’s ticket to the state tournament with a 21-18 victory over Weslaco High.
Salinas came up big during the Warriors’ final drive of the game, connecting with senior Issac Sotuyo on a 40-yard bomb to set up the game-winning score. On the next play, Salinas found Isaiah Mata sitting in the middle of the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.
“It was about urgency,” Salinas said. “We all had to have that sense of urgency. We wanted to march down the field short by short. Issac Sotuyo came up big with that long catch and run. Then Isaiah Mata came up with the winning touchdown and extra point. It felt amazing knowing I could trust my receivers.”
Sotuyo, who made several key catches for the Warriors while lining up at receiver, also saw time at quarterback, tossing one touchdown during the state qualifier.
The Warriors finished the day 4-0, picking up wins over La Joya Palmview (21-12), Mercedes (25-20) and PSJA Memorial (21-13) before downing Weslaco High in the state qualifying game.
“It’s a big confidence booster for sure, knowing that we’re making it to state,” Salinas said. “We’re hoping that during the season all this can transfer over.”
AT SHARYLAND HIGH
Sharyland High deployed a two-quarterback system during its Bracket B state qualifying matchup against Laredo United South, with senior Cole Gerlach and junior Bo Krell combining for four touchdowns en route to a 26-21 victory over the Panthers.
Gerlach and Krell are vying for the starting position this fall, with last year’s starter, Orly Lopez, gone due to graduation.
Senior twins Alan and Alek Gonzalez served as security blankets for their two quarterbacks, nabbing three of the Rattlers’ four touchdown passes during the state qualifier. Gerlach hit Alan in stride for a 45-yard bomb during the first half, while Alek scored both his touchdowns from inside the 5, including the game-winner on a 5-yard strike from Krell with less than two minutes left.
“It’s really just reading the safeties,” Sharyland High receiver Alan Gonzalez said. “You see them real tight, you know you can get outside them. I trust my speed and my quarterbacks trust my speed, so they know I’ll get past them. You know the saying, if he’s leaning, he’s leaving.”
A pass breakup by senior Tomas Robinson set up the Rattlers’ go-ahead score during the first half, with Gerlach connecting with senior running back Alan Guerrero for a 1-yard touchdown, taking a 20-14 lead into the break.
Robinson came up big again during the final period, coming up with a game-sealing interception with 1:14 left, sending the Rattlers to the state tournament for the first time since 2014.
“We still have stuff to work on,” Sharyland receiver Alek Gonzalez said. “Our whole team has to work, and we’re going to keep working to get better and put a show on at state.”
AT MISSION VETERANS
San Benito became the third team to punch its ticket to the state tournament, defeating Bracket A host Mission Veterans 20-14.
The Greyhounds defeated Brownsville Porter (21-6), Edcouch-Elsa (28-25) and Mission High (20-13) to emerge unscathed during pool play, carrying the momentum into the final matchup against the Patriots.
San Benito’s victory snaps a 15-year drought without a state 7-on-7 appearance, advancing for the first time since 2007.
The next 7-on-7 SQT in the RGV is set for June 11 in Weslaco, with 16 teams competing for two available bids to the state tournament during the RGV Mid Valley Classic.
