Division I Texas 7-on-7 State Tournament Pool Picks and Preview

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The Texas State 7-on-7 Championship pools are out! Here are the predictions for the order of finish in each group, plus a mini-preview for each pool.

 

Pool A Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Longview
  2. Lubbock Coronado
  3. Cy Falls
  4. White Settlement Brewer

It could be an East Texas vs West Texas battle in Pool A, but we give the edge to Longview due to the Lobos elite playmaking ability on both sides of the ball. Cy Falls is always scrappy and could play spoiler, while Brewer who really struggled in early qualifiers and got hot in the last SQT is making their first ever trip to College Station.

 

Pool B Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Katy Cinco Ranch
  2. Killeen Harker Heights
  3. Lewisville Hebron
  4. Wichita Falls Rider

Top to bottom there may not be a better pool than this one, all four teams in this group are capable of winning the pool. Defending champion Hebron didn’t get much hype last year and the Hawks rolled to an 8-0 mark and they are again flying under the radar as a resurgent Cinco Ranch squad gets the nod in this pool. Harker Heights boasts elite playmakers on both sides of the ball and they have experience from making State a year ago. Rider is picked fourth, but the Raiders are plenty dangerous!

 

Pool C Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Dickinson
  2. Crandall
  3. Austin Anderson
  4. McAllen Rowe

I don’t have a great feel for this pool, Dickinson when at full strength with all hands on deck is super-talented, but consistency is a concern. Crandall went 6-1 in two SQTs and showed out in the Tyler SQT that when locked in they can be dominant. Austin Anderson has shown moments of brilliance, while McAllen Rowe takes on the role of scrappy underdog from the RGV.

 

Pool D Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Frisco Wakeland
  2. Klein Collins
  3. Buda Johnson
  4. El Paso Franklin

Much like Pool C, this is another pool that I’m having a hard time getting a good gauge on. Wakeland and Buda Johnson are making return trips to College Station, but Klein Collins is always a tricky team out of the Houston area. Even El Paso Franklin has a path to finishing in the top two, the Cougars are routinely among the top teams in the 915.

 

Pool E Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Lake Travis
  2. DeSoto
  3. Fort Bend Hightower
  4. El Paso Eastlake

A really good team or two will be in the consolation bracket as this is the “Pool of Death.” Obviously perennial power Lake Travis is the favorite, but DeSoto looks like they are vintage DeSoto at the skill spots and the Eagles will be capable of not only challenging the Cavs, but challenging on Day 2. Hightower and Eastlake are outstanding teams and could be players in the consolation bracket, but they got a really tough draw on Day 1.  

 

Pool F Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Austin Westlake
  2. McKinney
  3. Fort Bend Marshall
  4. El Paso Coronado

Austin Westlake’s strength in the fall is their ability to dominate up front on both sides of the ball, but the Chaps play some really good 7-on-7 as well, they’ll get the edge over a super-talented McKinney squad making their first trip to State 7-on-7 in over twenty years. Another uber-talented team is Fort Bend Marshall, who on their best day is capable of beating anyone in this tournament.

 

Pool G Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Colleyville Heritage
  2. Austin LBJ
  3. Katy Jordan
  4. Bellaire Episcopal

Colleyville Heritage was absolutely dominant in five SQTs this year and the Panthers are on the short-list of teams who could run the table down in College Station. LBJ doesn’t have a ton of depth and that could play a role on Day 2, but the Jags have enough on hand to be a solid choice for second place over newcomer Katy Jordan and the lone private school in the field, Bellaire Episcopal.  
 

Pool H Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Alvin Shadow Creek
  2. Round Rock Westwood
  3. PSJA North
  4. Trophy Club Nelson

Shadow Creek without a doubt expects to be a real contender to win the title out of the Houston area, the Sharks are experienced at key spots and plenty talented. Westwood proved how good they can be with a win over Westlake in early SQT play, while PSJA North is maybe the best hope out of the RGV for a spot in the championship bracket.

 

Pool I Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Klein Cain
  2. El Paso Eastwood
  3. North Crowley
  4. Lake Dallas

Klein Cain gets the edge in this pool that’s wide open, Eastwood represents El Paso’s best chance of success, the Troopers thrive in the 7-on-7 game as they are run and gun, wide open on Friday nights as well. North Crowley has some dynamic young talent, but the key for the Panthers is consistency.

 

Pool J Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Midlothian Heritage
  2. San Benito
  3. Red Oak
  4. Aldine Eisenhower

It’s not often you get two teams in the same county playing in the same pool at State 7-on-7 but Ellis County is well represented in this pool with Midlothian Heritage moving up to Division I and Red Oak, making their first trip to College Station. San Benito has dominated in the RGV this summer, can the Greyhounds give the Valley something to cheer about? Ike is a sleeper out of Houston with some eye-popping talent.

 

Pool K Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Dripping Springs
  2. Mesquite Horn
  3. Willis
  4. Abilene

I absolutely love this pool, four really good teams here all of whom are capable of finishing at the top. Dripping Springs has the best QB of the group, but Mesquite Horn top to bottom is as athletic as they come. Willis has a good young QB and above average athletes, while Abilene plays elite 7-on-7 defense, but can the Warbirds score enough points?

 

Pool L Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Midlothian
  2. San Angelo Central
  3. Plano
  4. Clear Brook

This pool is really wide open, Midlothian didn’t qualify until the final week of SQTs, but the Panthers are battle tested against some of the best in DFW. San Angelo put it all together in Abilene, but can the Angry Orange hold off Plano who appears to be resurgent.

 

Pool M Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Rockwall-Heath
  2. Temple
  3. Mission Sharyland
  4. Conroe Grand Oaks

Rockwalll-Heath despite missing some key players during their baseball playoff run, still managed to qualify at the Midlothian Heritage SQT. They get the nod over Temple who is super talented, but the Wildcats are likely going to be missing their most dangerous offensive weapon for the State Tournament. Sharyland was a 7-on-7 power in the RGV, they took a step back for a few years but appear to be back among the elite in the 956. Grand Oaks was able to qualify just a few days ago at the Sam Brown SQT, which was hosted on their campus.

 

Pool N Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Coppell
  2. Houston Lamar
  3. College Station
  4. Amarillo

Coppell is a real sleeper to watch out of the DFW area, the Cowboys are unbeaten in their two SQTs and appear to have a new and refreshed attitude under a new coaching staff. Houston Lamar is always talented and capable of making some big moves. Hometown College Station really struggled to qualify, but the Cougs always are a tough out at State, playing on familiar turf. Amarillo has a long trip down from the Panhandle, can the Sandies score enough points to be competitive in a good pool?

 

Pool O Predicted Order of Finish

  1. The Woodlands
  2. Prosper
  3. Mission
  4. San Antonio Brandeis

The Woodlands is primed for a big season and a strong performance at State 7-on-7 Tournament could be a sign of things to come for the Highlanders. Prosper has had major success in the fall and the Eagles are back in College Station for the second straight year, the two South Texas candidates in this pool will be looking to play the role of spoiler.

 

Pool P Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Flower Mound Marcus
  2. Corpus Christi Miller
  3. Houston Heights
  4. A&M Consolidated

Flower Mound Marcus is another team from the DFW area who could emerge as a real contender on the second day of the tournament, they’ve got experience in key places and outstanding depth. Newcomer Miller has some big-time playmakers and they’ll be a factor along with Houston Heights. The wildcard is A&M Consolidated, if the Tigers are at full strength they will be a major player in this pool as well.

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