7×7: Jamboree prepares Legacy, Heat for upcoming tourneys
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Both New Mexico Heat and New Mexico Legacy, – two of the most prominent 7×7 travels teams from the Land of Enchantment – prepared for upcoming tournaments by competing in a three-team Jamboree Sunday afternoon at La Cueva High School.…
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Continue ReadingBoth New Mexico Heat and New Mexico Legacy, – two of the most prominent 7×7 travels teams from the Land of Enchantment – prepared for upcoming tournaments by competing in a three-team Jamboree Sunday afternoon at La Cueva High School.
The third team involved in the Jamboree was Mountain Muscle from Colorado.
Heat head coach Isaiah Brown was pleased with his team performed in their two games. Former Volcano Vista QB Elliot Paskett -Bell (NMMI commit) and his favorite target last season, WR Tristan Cordova, connected for numerous completions.
“We tried to work on our short game because everybody knows now that we can hit the deep ball,” Brown told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “Eliot and Tristan had a nice connection going. It seems like they’re getting back to where they were at Volcano Vista.”
Additional standouts for the Heat included Erick Thomas (Eldorado), Ricky Martinez Ricky Martinez 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR West Mesa | 2024 State NM (West Mesa),, WR Josiah Mitchell Josiah Mitchell 6'0" | 155 lbs | WR Eldorado | 2024 State NM (Eldorado) and QB Adrian Solis Adrian Solis 5'6" | 165 lbs | QB Goddard | 2023 State NM (Goddard).
Solis had little 7×7 experience when he began playing for Heat, but has steadily improved with every practice and game, Brown said.
“I like the way Adrian is settling in,” Brown said. “All the coaches agree he is looking very comfortable right now. I like the way he’s reading the defense. He has a really nice touch on his passes. I told he just has to keep his confidence up. I saw his potential at tryouts. He’s really growing, which is exciting to see.”
Legacy and Heat matched up in the second of the Jamboree’s three games and, as you might expect, things got heated between the two local rivals. Heat scored a quick touchdown on the opening possession, Legacy responded with a TD on their first play and Heat struck quickly again. The Heat intercepted a pass, scored a TD and came up with another interception before scoring again.
“We looked really good,” Brown said. “It was a good tuneup for us.”
Heat heads to Houston this weekend for a DR7 tournament. Dozens of teams are expected to participate.
“The competition is going to be intense and probably better than what we saw in San Antonio,” Brown said. “Hopefully, we’ll put everything together in this tournament. The kids are looking more confident and more comfortable.”
For Legacy, Sunday’s Jamboree was a bit of a struggle. The good news? They have two more practices before they head to Las Vegas, NV on March 4-5 for the Cam Newton Foundation Tournament.
Rising junior quarterback Kelly Stevens (Las Cruces) suffered a toe injury Saturday night and wasn’t 100 percent on Sunday but he persevered through the injury.
“That took a toll on our play,” Legacy coach Ramar Watson said. “He really couldn’t roll out, so he had to stay in the pocket. We played our backup QB for a little bit but Kelly came back. He just stood in the pocket and did it like that. Overall, it was a rough day.”
After dropping the game to Heat, Legacy battled Mountain Muscle to the wire before falling by one point.
With basketball season winding down, Watson expects to soon add three more players to the Legacy roster: Marvin Watson (Manzano), Marcus Sharp (West Mesa) and Tavon Archibald Tavon Archibald 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB West Mesa | 2024 State NM (West Mesa), possibly in time for the Las Vegas trip.
In April, Legacy will travel to Dallas to compete in a 7×7 Tournament at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, home of the Dallas Cowboys.