VIKINGS SWEEP 3RD POOL IN A ROW

The Viking varsity 7 on 7 team traveled to Justin Northwest HS Friday and went 3-0 in pool play for the 3rd consecutive week. Keep in mind the other teams in each of these pools are trying to qualify for state so they are focused. Since we have already qualified we use the remaining tournaments as "high speed practices". Like any sports team the kids tire of playing intra squad games and they really look forward to playing other schools, with refs in a competitive environment. Because of our sponsorship from First Rate, Inc. we are able to pay the $300.00 entry fee to up to six tournaments per year prior to State. This gives the Vikes as much or more tournament experience than any other team in the area. That extra work and competitiveness helps us get ready for the high level of competition we face in every game at the state tournament.

For the 2nd week in a row our "D" turned in a great performance. We shut out two teams in the first half of the 3 games we played. 7 on 7 is designed to score; the rules favor the offense. So to pitch 4 shutout halves in the last two tournaments... We also had 5 interceptions in 3 games which is ball hawking! Our offense is really spreading the ball around. Some years we might have 1-2 "go to" receivers. But this group with Jack at QB, has 5 "go to" receivers on the field at a time! That really stresses any defense we go up against. We played well on offense but we can definitely be more consistent and we will get there!

Perhaps the hardest part of my job each year is reducing the squad down to the final 20 players that will compete for us at the state tournament. This year we have 23-24 players that could make most teams final 20. So telling 3-4 kids they are not going after putting in the work is really hard. All I can tell them is that 7 on 7 is not real football and that this in no way reflects on their ability in REAL FOOTBALL. All of these are great kids; which I think reflects on you as parents and Coach DeLay and his staff since they have them most of the year.

This week we will practice twice then travel to LD Bell for our last tournament before State.

VFND
Coach Poynter