Area teams take field in 7 on 7 passing games
LONG BEACH - What promises to be some of the elite-level high school football teams in Southern California will be on display today at Veterans Stadium, at least a month and half before the clubs strap it on for real in 2007.
The Nike 7 on 7 Passing Championships get underway at 11 a.m., with the Poly High Jackrabbits and seven other teams scheduled for three 7 on 7 (no interior line, except for a center, and "touch"-style play) games apiece.
Two games will be played simultaneously, with Mission Viejo taking on Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, and Mater Dei facing Hart at 11, followed at noon by Birmingham of Lake Balboa and Edison, and Poly vs. Crespi.
The winners and losers of the 11 o'clock games hook up in championship and consolation semifinals at 1, with the winners and losers of the noon contests completing semifinal action at 2.
The championship game is set for approximately 3:15.
Admission is free.
As he did the previous four years of the event (it was held at Vets four years ago, with USC playing host to the next two competitions; it returned to Long Beach last July), Student Sports Magazine national high school football recruiting director Greg Biggins selected the teams and aligned the bracketing.
"It's a good showcase for some of the best skill players in the country," Biggins said Thursday.
Notre Dame, eliminated in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs by Poly last November, is led by a 6-foot-5 quarterback, Dayne Crist, who has committed to the University of Notre Dame.
"And Mater Dei, which hasn't been in this event in a while, has the No. 1-ranked junior (to be) quarterback in the country (Matt Barkley), and got its spot after winning the Dana Hills Passing Tournament (in June)," Biggins said.
Jimmy Clausen-led Oaks Christian rolled to the 7 on 7 title a year ago.
"This one should be more wide open," Biggins said. "I wouldn't be surprised if any of the teams wins it."
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