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We will, we will Rockwall you: West unbeaten in champions bracket at final SQT
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
Plano West was placed in the champions bracket Saturday at the Rockwall SQT.
The Wolves responded by doing the same thing they have done in every 7-on-7 game this summer: win.
West defeated Hebron, Tyler Lee and Wylie to finish another SQT at 3-0.
That stood to reason considering West was in Pool E, which featured teams that had already qualified for the Division I FOX Sports Southwest 7-on-7 State Championship.
"It was good to be matched up with quality teams and get ready for College Station," Mercer said. "We viewed this as kind of a tune-up or practice pool for state."
West picked off a couple former district opponents along the way, starting with a 40-27 win over Wylie.
"That game was back and forth most of the way," Mercer said.
The Wolves created some separation with a pair of late first-half scores, but the Pirates tied the game in the second half. That comeback wouldn't hold though as the first-half process repeated itself with another pair of late scores clinching the West victory.
"We've been in a lot of close games," Mercer said, "and we believe what we've been doing in our summer conditioning program has been paying off late in these games."
No such dramatics were required against Tyler Lee as West picked up a 43-20 win. As would be the case in the finale against Hebron, the Wolves were stout on defense with strong performances from Tim Okposin, John Rind and Davis Roeschke. Okposin, who is cleared for 7-on-7 but not full-contact football, has been particularly notable this summer as he shifted over from running back to safety since experiencing lingering issues from a concussion.
"Tim will still get some carries at running back, but he's been huge for our defense," Mercer said. "He is really becoming the leader for that unit."
West finished the day against Hebron.
The Wolves and Hawks were scheduled to play four weeks ago at the Frisco Liberty SQT, but both advanced to state by making the finals of that tournament and instead decided the victor via rock, paper, scissors. The pseudo rematch held forth Saturday at HBJ Stadium.
"The kids were really excited for that game and you can see it got a little chippy before things started," Mercer said. "Hebron has a good team in 7-on-7 and of course they have beat us in district the past couple seasons, so we have a pretty good rivalry going with them."
A good rivalry didn't equate a good game as West led from the outset.
Buoyed by the quarterbacking of Travis Korry and an advantage in the slot with wide receivers Austin Copeland, Zac Gideo and Will Baldridge, West picked up a 35-13 win.
"Travis has really asserted himself as a leader over these past two tournaments," Mercer said. "He is in control at all times; he knows how to call the offense and when he finds something that works, he sticks with it, and that's what we obviously want to see."
The victory allowed West to finish its Rockwall SQT slate at 3-0 and bumped the Wolves up to 11-0 in SQTs for the summer. That isn't even the best record in the program as the West junior varsity team, which has its state tourney July 7-8, is 17-0 against fellow JV squads this summer.
The varsity, which wraps up league play tonight, could theoretically surpass that mark when it travels to state July 20-21.
"We are taking a little time off because last year we played in five SQTs and I think we were a little tired by the time we got to state," Mercer said. "But I feel better about this team than any other we've ever taken to College Station. The defense is up and cheering when the offense is on the field and vice versa, so you've got to feel good about that."
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