DOWNTOWN-Not even temperatures in the high 90s could phase a hot Bartram Trail team in the 4th Annual Jacksonville Jaguars 7-on-7 tourney today.
Twelve teams representing Brunswick (GA), Tallahassee Lincoln, Bartram Trail, Terry Parker, Ed White, Baldwin, Ribault, Stanton, St. Augustine, Creekside, Fletcher and Raines participated in this years event.
Teams played three pool games in the earlier part of the day and then were seeded and placed in brackets based on pool play.
St. Augustine was the top seed after pool play but was knocked off in the quarterfinals by Brunswick after getting a first round bye.
The bracket after pool play at the Jags 7 on 7 tourney. pic.twitter.com/hW62ZZIAvj
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) June 21, 2017
Games are two 12 minute halves and the clock stops with under two minutes left in each half. Play starts at the 40-yard line and teams have four downs to cross the 20-yard line or turn the ball over. If they successfully advance past the 20, they have four more downs to score. A touchdown is worth 7 points and if a team picks off a pass they awarded three points as well.
In the semifinals, Bartram Trail had little trouble with Brunswick winning by two scores; while Fletcher rallied from behind and knocked off Ribault 14-10 in the closing seconds.
Trailing 10-7 with time winding down, the Senators scored on a short toss with 18 seconds left to stun the Trojans defense. Setting up a showdown between No. 2 Fletcher and No. 5 Bartram Trail for the title.
Fletcher rallies in last seconds to knock off Ribault in semi finals. pic.twitter.com/zUHH07CX0C
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) June 21, 2017
Fletcher and Ribault shake hands after a fantastic semifinal game. pic.twitter.com/VjYy8VmkwV
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) June 21, 2017
The championship game was anything but exciting though, as the Bears (6-1) took advantage of a gassed Fletcher team 27-7 to win the title.
Bartram Trail is loaded again with quarterbacks Joey Gatewood and Riley Smith, tight end Robert French, tailback Devin Ellison and receiver Gunnar Hitzeman just to name a few.
The Bears scored first on their opening drive of the game behind a toss from Gatewood. Fletcher tried to tie it but a fourth down pass was dropped short of the goal line turning the ball over on downs.
A possession later, the Senators attempted a long pass in the end zone and was picked off for an additional three points and 10-0 Bears lead.
Another interception increased the lead to 13-0 before Gatewood found French in the back of the end zone for a 20-0 lead.
Fletcher finally got on the board with a short pass late in the game to cut the lead to 20-7, but the momentum was short lived as Gatewood threw his third touchdown of the game to close it out with a 27-7 win.
After seven hours at the field, Bartram Trail was still excited to bring home the title and the first title for St. Johns County at the event.
Bartram Trail celebrates winning the Jags 7 on 7 tourney @BTHS_Football @DuvalSports @wwbrown19 pic.twitter.com/bDBhhlpJIC
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) June 21, 2017
The 7-on-7 tourney wasn’t the only competition of the day as the event also held a big lineman challenge for all the participating schools and a few others on hand.
Lineman competed in a two man tire flip, two man wheel barrel, prowel push, plate stack, tug of war and a 7-on-7 competition. Points were rewarded for how teams finished in each event with first place getting 5 points, second place 3 points and third place 1 point.
The passing challenge isn't limited to the skill players.. It's time for the Big Man Challenge pic.twitter.com/j7L9MZQIhV
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) June 21, 2017
Congrats to @BTHS_Football (Skills Competition) & Brunswick (Big Man Challenge) for taking home the #Jaguars 7-on-7 Passing Challenge 🏆's pic.twitter.com/r0L3f8bVGL
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) June 21, 2017
The Jags put on a first class event again and teams are already thinking about the 5th Annual competition next year.
