WESLACO — Teams from the Rio Grande are set to be in action this weekend at the the 7-0n-7 state tournament in College Station, beginning with La Feria today.
The Lions take the field at 1:45 p.m. at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Station for the first pool game in Division II.
La Feria has its work cut out for it in Game 1 against Lubbock Christian, the 2022 TAPPS Division IV state champion. The Lions then take on Sulphur Springs and West Orange-Stark, both playoff teams from 2022.
La Feria is a playoff team, too, and returns quarterback Andruw Rivera for his junior season. The junior is ready to mix it up with some of the most talented skill players from around the state, he said after qualifying in early June at the 2023 Battle at the Bay 7-on-7 tournament in Port Isabel.
La Feria will be seeded for Friday’s single-elimination bracket that involves all Division II teams at 8:45 a.m.
Joining La Feria this weekend in College Station are Weslaco High, PSJA North, PSJA High and McAllen Rowe in Division I, which will play Friday.
Weslaco High makes its seventh appearance, the most of all teams qualified.
“I hope this tournament helps our chemistry,” Weslaco High quarterback Andres Sepulveda said. “It should, but we just want to get better and compete, so it could help us out for that Friday night lights.”
The Panthers, Raiders and Bears qualified at the Snake Pit SQT. The Warriors qualified through the Mid-Valley SQT. All teams have solid quarterbacks. Sepulveda, PSJA North’s Ale Aparacio, PSJA High’s Jaime Lopez and McAllen Rowe’s Lance Salinas all started last fall in the playoffs.
Aparacio and PSJA North take on Cy Falls, San Marcos and Keller Timber Creek in Pool B. The Raiders meet Cy Falls at 1 p.m.
Weslaco High takes on Waller at 1 p.m. and then faces Midlothian Heritage and Bryan.
McAllen Rowe also starts at 1 p.m. Friday with Lake Belton. The Warriors then take on Pearland Dawson and McKinney.
PSJA High starts at 1:45 p.m. Friday against Wylie East. Arlington Lamar and Houston Lamar are the Bears’ other pool opponents.
The top two teams from each pool in Division I advances to the championship bracket starting at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, and the bottom two teams enter the consolation bracket starting at 8 a.m.