Congratulations to the following Viking 7 on 7 players for being selected to the traveling squad to the State Tournament (alphabetical by last name):
1. Bobby Brown
2. Dayton Dubs
3. Cameron Escobedo
4. Chance Fuller
5. Deshawn Gaddie
6. Kaden Hadawi
7. Red Huggins
8. Jaylen Jones
9. DeAndre League
10. Jalan McDonald
11. Trey Miller
12. Rashod Polk
13. Maxwell Premph
14. Ryan Reuland
15. Mathew Shaw
16. Lakendrick Simpson
17. Cade Tresch
18. Justin Thomas
19. Kolby Underwood
20. Devon Wright
Monday, June 20, 2016
VIKES FINISH THE REGULAR SEASON UNDEFEATED AT 13-0
With the State 7 on 7 tournament only a few weeks away we decided to try to replicate as much as possible the grueling two day event in College Station. To win a state 7 on 7 championship requires winning at least 2 games of 3 on Friday; then winning 5 in a row on Saturday. The heat and quality of competition takes a large physical and mental strain on the competitors from all teams. By putting ourselves through a similar process this past Friday (3 games) and Saturday (3games) in very hot conditions, gave us a good look at how the kids would react to the stress. The Vikes handled the test very well going 6-0 against very solid competition. Not only is this a test for the kids but the coaches and parents as well have to deal with the heat and the logistics (water/food/rides/tents/paperwork) of running a first class program. It was a challenge for everyone and they lived up to the test. We participated in 4 State Qualifying Tournaments over the past month and the Vikes won all 13 games without a loss.
We have now selected the 20 man roster for College Station and will spend the next 5 practices prior to departing for College Station working with these players as units. We will also get them some well deserved rest in this period. Most fans do not realize that the summer off season work-outs for football continue-it is not just 7 on 7 that demands of them in the summer. So getting their legs back prior to leaving for College Station is as important as the work we do on the field.
I will blog again once the Pools have been announced and give you some feel for who we will be playing on Friday July 8th. VFND!
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
VIKES IN BACK TO BACK SQT'S THIS WEEKEND
This Friday and Saturday the Viking 7 on 7 team (8-0 for season) will play 6 pool games in a 24 hour period in two different road tournaments. This is in preparation for the State Tournament which is held over two days, in hot weather, against very good competition. The conditions will be similar this weekend.
After the two tournaments this week, in consultation with Coach DeLay we will finalize the 20 man roster for the State Tournament. I will report back how we fared next week. VFND!
After the two tournaments this week, in consultation with Coach DeLay we will finalize the 20 man roster for the State Tournament. I will report back how we fared next week. VFND!
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
VIKINGS QUALIFY FOR RECORD 19TH YEAR IN A ROW!
The 2016 Lamar Viking 7 on 7 team joined the most exclusive club in Texas high school 7 on 7 Saturday as they qualified for the State 7 on 7 Championship for a record 19th consecutive time. The Vikes went 3-0 in pool play and then won the qualifying game to go to 4-0. To give you some idea of how long this streak has continued none of the players on the current team were alive when the streak started in 1998. The Vikes are the ONLY high school in Texas to have achieved this feat out of some 1350+ high schools.
Up next is the Southlake SQT. The Vikes will participate in Pool Play beginning at 1:00 pm at Southlake Carroll Sr. High. Directions and other information can be found under the "PDF" tab on the home page.
The State Championship will be held July 8-9 in College Station.
Up next is the Southlake SQT. The Vikes will participate in Pool Play beginning at 1:00 pm at Southlake Carroll Sr. High. Directions and other information can be found under the "PDF" tab on the home page.
The State Championship will be held July 8-9 in College Station.
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
FIRST QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT THIS WEEKEND!
The Viking 7 on 7 team will travel to Justin NW High School early Saturday morning in quest of a record 18th consecutive qualification for the State Championship Tournament in July.
The kids had a good spring in regular football and we supplemented that with a handful of preseason 7 on 7 practices. This group works hard and is a reflection of the work put in on by Coach DeLay and his staff all year long. Now that the kids are "ours" we will step up putting in our packages that relate to the 7 on 7 game which along with their regular football packages gives us a good mix.
The tournament gets underway at 9:00 am Saturday. The pool play schedule is attached as a PDF along with directions to the tournament. Sam Thomas a former Viking football player is going to update our twitter feed so if you cannot make it out just check in periodically for updates. I will of course update the blog after we see how we fare in this first tournament.
The kids had a good spring in regular football and we supplemented that with a handful of preseason 7 on 7 practices. This group works hard and is a reflection of the work put in on by Coach DeLay and his staff all year long. Now that the kids are "ours" we will step up putting in our packages that relate to the 7 on 7 game which along with their regular football packages gives us a good mix.
The tournament gets underway at 9:00 am Saturday. The pool play schedule is attached as a PDF along with directions to the tournament. Sam Thomas a former Viking football player is going to update our twitter feed so if you cannot make it out just check in periodically for updates. I will of course update the blog after we see how we fare in this first tournament.
Friday, March 4, 2016
2016 7 on 7 SEASON TO GET UNDERWAY THIS MONTH
The 2016 Lamar Varsity 7 on 7 team will begin efforts to qualify for a state record 19th consecutive trip to the State 7 on 7 Tournament with the first practice on Saturday March 26th.
We have sent in deposits for 6 State Qualifying Tournaments (SQT's) including our first ever back to back SQT's on consecutive days. This will allow us to mimic the 2 day state tournament and all that means in terms of playing a lot of games against good opponents with a short turn around. Although it costs more in terms of entry fees we believe using SQT's as a "high speed" practice against other teams benefits the kids more than another internal practice. Of course that all depends on how fast we actually get qualified as to how we treat each tournament in terms of who we actually take and how we approach the day.
I am please to announce that Lysandra Bell and Shannon Huggins have agreed to be our team volunteer coordinators this season. This is an important job and I know the rest of the parents and other friends of the program will help make sure the players have everything they need to compete.
I am also very pleased to announce that several of our long time sponsors are helping us in key areas most notably First Rate and DS Waters. Their financial and material contributions are essential to run the Lamar program in the manner consistent with our goals of best in State.
Finally, we are so fortunate to have our 2015 coaching staff returning intact for the 2016 season. Other than the two old guys (Jim and Steve) these young men were special players in the Lamar football and 7 on 7 programs and now serve as volunteer coaches. Steve has been with me a long time and if we need it done he finds the way. I promise you they are as good as any 7 on 7 staff in the State and we have a lot of fun doing it!
Jim Poynter: Head Coach
Steve Villareal: Assistant Head Coach/Operations
Elias Bahar: Offensive Coordinator
Lawrence Idiata: Defensive Coordinator
Harrell Hicks: Defense
Julian Steward: Defensive
Michael Poynter: Offense/State Tournament
Be sure and thank them for their service when you have the opportunity!
We have sent in deposits for 6 State Qualifying Tournaments (SQT's) including our first ever back to back SQT's on consecutive days. This will allow us to mimic the 2 day state tournament and all that means in terms of playing a lot of games against good opponents with a short turn around. Although it costs more in terms of entry fees we believe using SQT's as a "high speed" practice against other teams benefits the kids more than another internal practice. Of course that all depends on how fast we actually get qualified as to how we treat each tournament in terms of who we actually take and how we approach the day.
I am please to announce that Lysandra Bell and Shannon Huggins have agreed to be our team volunteer coordinators this season. This is an important job and I know the rest of the parents and other friends of the program will help make sure the players have everything they need to compete.
I am also very pleased to announce that several of our long time sponsors are helping us in key areas most notably First Rate and DS Waters. Their financial and material contributions are essential to run the Lamar program in the manner consistent with our goals of best in State.
Finally, we are so fortunate to have our 2015 coaching staff returning intact for the 2016 season. Other than the two old guys (Jim and Steve) these young men were special players in the Lamar football and 7 on 7 programs and now serve as volunteer coaches. Steve has been with me a long time and if we need it done he finds the way. I promise you they are as good as any 7 on 7 staff in the State and we have a lot of fun doing it!
Jim Poynter: Head Coach
Steve Villareal: Assistant Head Coach/Operations
Elias Bahar: Offensive Coordinator
Lawrence Idiata: Defensive Coordinator
Harrell Hicks: Defense
Julian Steward: Defensive
Michael Poynter: Offense/State Tournament
Be sure and thank them for their service when you have the opportunity!
Thursday, July 9, 2015
VIKES DEPART FOR COLLEGE STATION TODAY
The kids put in the necessary work this week at practice and we are ready to go down to the State 7 on 7 tournament and compete. In thinking back over the 59 games I have participated in at State as the Head Coach for the Vikes there are a couple of things that I am really proud of:
* Viking players have always traveled well. We stay at the same hotel year after year because both parties treat the other with respect. They really do ACT like they belong at State.
* We play hard all of the time. With just a few exceptions we advance to the Championship bracket on Saturday which means we finished 1st or 2nd in Pool Play. So not only have we made it to the State tournament a record 18 years in a row but we do something with it when we get there. Four trips to the final 4 and two more to the quarterfinals surely attests to that player effort.
* Not only are the Vikes the only team in the State of Texas to qualify all 18 years but we have accomplished that feat ON THE ROAD every single time. Can you imagine if the Cowboys or TCU played only "road games"? We are never put in an "easy" pool as most host schools do for themselves in order to increase their chances of qualifying in their own tournament. By doing it the hard way on the road we are more ready to take on the quality of opponent in College Station.
We have a great challenge in front of us the next few days. There are a lot of talented teams and players to contend with. To narrow it down from 64 teams to a State Championship requires incredible talent, effort and a bit of luck. I promise we will give it our VERY BEST. VFND.
Jim Poynter and Staff
* Viking players have always traveled well. We stay at the same hotel year after year because both parties treat the other with respect. They really do ACT like they belong at State.
* We play hard all of the time. With just a few exceptions we advance to the Championship bracket on Saturday which means we finished 1st or 2nd in Pool Play. So not only have we made it to the State tournament a record 18 years in a row but we do something with it when we get there. Four trips to the final 4 and two more to the quarterfinals surely attests to that player effort.
* Not only are the Vikes the only team in the State of Texas to qualify all 18 years but we have accomplished that feat ON THE ROAD every single time. Can you imagine if the Cowboys or TCU played only "road games"? We are never put in an "easy" pool as most host schools do for themselves in order to increase their chances of qualifying in their own tournament. By doing it the hard way on the road we are more ready to take on the quality of opponent in College Station.
We have a great challenge in front of us the next few days. There are a lot of talented teams and players to contend with. To narrow it down from 64 teams to a State Championship requires incredible talent, effort and a bit of luck. I promise we will give it our VERY BEST. VFND.
Jim Poynter and Staff
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