Dave Campbell’s Texas Football will have wall to wall coverage of the 2024 Texas 7-on-7 State Tournament this weekend in College Station, let’s take an overall look at the field, some fun facts and get a look at some pools and teams to watch!

 

The Defending Champions

Two of the three state champions from 2023 are back to defend their crowns in 2024.  Defending Division I champion Round Rock failed to advance to the State Tournament coming up short in the Westwood SQT and the Westlake SQT. While Hitchcock who has won back-to-back Division II crowns earned their trip to state on May 18 at the Needville SQT. Two-time Division III state champion Miles earned a trip to College Station on June 8 with a dominant performance at the Sonora SQT.  Keep in mind, no team has ever won three consecutive 7-on-7 State Tournament titles in any division.

 

It’s Been a While, Welcome Back!

These teams have advanced to the State 7-on-7 Tournament before, but it has been a few years, so welcome these old friends back to College Station!

Abilene Cooper (last appearance 2018)

Alamo Heights (last appearance 2018)

Allen (last appearance 2014)

Beeville Jones (last appearance 2008)

Conroe Oak Ridge (last appearance 2009)

Friendswood (last appearance 2018)

Frisco Centennial (last appearance 2013)

Houston Strake Jesuit (last appearance 2015)

Keller Central (last appearance 2011)

Iraan (last appearance 2013)

La Grange (last appearance 2016)

Lewisville (last appearance 2010)

Lumberton (last appearance 2001)

Mineral Wells (last appearance 2018)

PSJA Memorial (last appearance 2010)

Rice Consolidated (last appearance 2014)

Robinson (last appearance 2014)

Sabine (last appearance 2014)

Yoakum (last appearance 2015)

 

First Appearance At The Dance

Below is a list of the teams making their first-ever appearance at the State 7-on-7 Tournament.

DIVISON I:

Austin McCallum

El Paso Pebble Hills

Humble

Leander Rouse

Richardson Berkner

Richmond Randle

San Antonio East Central

San Antonio Pieper

Terrell

Wichita Falls Memorial

 

DIVISON II:

Alvarado

Brookshire Royal

Dallas Kimball

Kilgore

Sinton

 

DIVISON III:

Bartlett

Grapeland

Honey Grove

Lubbock Roosevelt

Muleshoe

Morton

Somerville

 

Conroe ISD Brings a Strong Division I Group

Not typically known as a hotbed in the Houston area for 7-on-7 Conroe ISD is having a banner summer with four teams playing in the State Tournament. The Woodlands has been a mainstay at state, while College Park is back for the second straight year. Grand Oaks after missing out on the state tournament in 2023, got back to College Station for the third time in four years, while Oak Ridge is back in College Station for the State Tournament for the first time since 2009.

 

Austin ISD Represents for the Inner City ISDs

Typically, it is tough for many teams from the inner city to compete on even terms with their counterparts from the suburbs and small towns due to teams having to pay to play in qualifiers outside of school money. That has limited participation in the past from teams in more urban ISD’s but Austin ISD’s teams have had a banner year qualifying three teams for the State Tournament in Anderson, LBJ (Division II) and McCallum. Another inner city team who qualified is Dallas Kimball in Division II.

 

The Pools of Death!

If you are a looking for the “pool of death” in each Division, here’s my picks for the toughest overall pools top to bottom:

Division III: Pool G (Grapeland, Honey Grove, Poth, Sunray)

Division II: Pool H (Graham, Hamshire-Fannett, Kilgore, Dallas Kimball)

Division I: Pool H (DeSoto, Lake Travis, Katy Tompkins, El Paso Eastlake)

 

Who Are This Year’s Favorites??

As always picking results in the State 7-on-7 tournament is a dicey proposition at best, but we make our best effort to name five teams to keep an eye on in each division.

D1: DeSoto, Coppell, Austin Westlake, Katy Cinco Ranch, North Crowley

D2: Hitchcock, Graham, Hamshire-Fannett, Bay City, Austin LBJ

D3: Miles, Gunter, East Bernard, Sunray, Sonora