Westminster 7-on-7 recap
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Hazelwood West coach Rory Seals knows his football team was a little different than the others at the Westminster 7-on-7 tournament on Saturday with the Wildcats coming in running a Double Wing offense. That didn’t stop Seals’ bunch from stealing…
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Continue ReadingHazelwood West coach Rory Seals knows his football team was a little different than the others at the Westminster 7-on-7 tournament on Saturday with the Wildcats coming in running a Double Wing offense.
That didn’t stop Seals’ bunch from stealing the show and winning the tournament with a victory over Lift For Life in the final seconds on Saturday afternoon.
“Commonly, spread teams are more proficient in passing leagues,” Seals said, “but we run what we run.”
The Wildcats suffered a season-ending loss to Lift For Life this past spring, but got some measure of revenge with the championship matchup win at Westminster.
“ Ja’Tarius McKinney Ja’Tarius McKinney 6'0" | 225 lbs | ATH Hazelwood West | 2022 MO has the arm to make every throw and he did just that,” Seals said. “Wide receivers Jayvion Brock Jayvion Brock 6'2" | 180 lbs | ATH Hazelwood West | 2022 State MO , Romano Gines Romano Gines 5'9" | 150 lbs | DB Hazelwood West | 2022 MO and Houston Randell Houston Randell 6'0" | 190 lbs | ATH Hazelwood West | 2022 MO all hauled in passes that led to the tournament victory.”
McKinney, a 6-foot, 225-pounder, was listed as a running back and quarterback on Hazelwood West’s roster this spring. He rushed for 121 yards on 28 carries and also served as one of the backup quarterbacks, but will be handed the keys to the offense this fall.
Brock, who impressed during a Prep Redzone Showcase this offseason, was an impact player on both sides of the ball this spring, but probably made a bigger impact on defense where he recorded 29 tackles and three sacks. Gines had a team-high 242 yards rushing this spring and also recorded 23 tackles and an interception. Randell recorded 28 tackles and two sacks as a defensive end.
Lift For Life coach Charlie Bass cited Anthony Caldwell Jr Anthony Caldwell Jr 5'9" | 160 lbs | WR Lift For Life | 2022 MO , Charles Bass Charles Bass 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB East St. Louis | 2025 State IL , Joshua Mullins Joshua Mullins 5'10" | 165 lbs | DB Lift For Life | 2022 MO and Reshad Singleton Reshad Singleton 5'9" | 170 lbs | ATH Lift For Life | 2022 MO as guys who performed well throughout the day and helped LFL earn a second-place finish.
“They played very well today,” the coach said.
It’s worth noting that Bass is a freshman. He will be a player to watch for the next four years.
Other players who impressed on Saturday included the Chaminade squad, competing in its second 7-on-7 tournament in two days in scorching temperatures, that included seniors Cameron Epps Cameron Epps 6'3" | 205 lbs | DB Chaminade | 2022 State MO , Elijah Griffin Elijah Griffin 6'4" | 195 lbs | WR Chaminade | 2022 State MO and Thomas Prevost Thomas Prevost 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Chaminade | 2022 MO and juniors Ryan Doehring Ryan Doehring 6'5" | 210 lbs | TE Chaminade | 2023 State MO , Drake Faust Drake Faust 6'0" | 165 lbs | QB Chaminade | 2023 State MO and Chris Jenkins Chris Jenkins 5'11" | 185 lbs | WR Chaminade | 2023 State MO .
The Red Devils’ offensive line group, led by senior Division I prospects Jimmy Lansing Jimmy Lansing 6'7" | 300 lbs | OL Chaminade | 2022 State MO and Alex Todt Alex Todt 6'4" | 275 lbs | OL Chaminade | 2022 State MO , won the offensive line challenge for the second consecutive day.
Kirkwood senior Cameron Paul Cameron Paul 6'4" | 230 lbs | TE Kirkwood | 2022 State MO showed why he is one of the top tight ends in the state. The 6-4, 230-pounder was a big target for the Pioneers every time he took the field. He has an early offer from Southeast Missouri State, but figures to attract more interest with a strong senior season.
Westminster senior offensive lineman Joshua Anderson Joshua Anderson 6'5" | 295 lbs | OL Westminster | 2022 State MO impressed during the offensive line challenge portion of the day with his size (6-5, 285) and his strength. He has been a hot prospect lately and has received a few Division I scholarship offers.
With his combination of size, smarts and pedigree — his father, Bennie Anderson, played offensive line in the NFL and his brother, Bennie Anderson Jr., is an offensive lineman at Yale — the younger Anderson will certainly be a prospect to watch this fall and going into Signing Day.
You can follow Nate Latsch on Twitter at @natelatsch.