DAPHNE, Alabama – The Wolves of Carver Montgomery swept through to a 20-10 win over Pensacola-Catholic in the first Jubilee City 7-on-7 Championship at Al Trione Park Saturday. The champions went 10-0 while the runner-up Crusaders went 8-2 with both losses to Carver. In the first meeting, Catholic held a 29-28 lead with seconds to go in overtime. The Wolves then converted a 2-point play for a 30-29 win to remain undefeated.

“That was a good game,” said Carver head coach Billy Gresham of the overtime game. “We felt like we had the momentum at the moment and had to go for the win right there. In 7-on-7, it’s not always about winning, it’s about one guy making a big play and the team uniting around.

"I think we learned from that game. Saw that we had to tighten up our defense for the championship. That gave us more sacks and kept them off the board. But they have a very good team and gave us a good test out there today. Daphne and coaches put on a great tournament. We’re happy to be the first team to win it and we plan to be back to defend it. You win it, you gotta defend it.”

After the title game, Daphne head coach Glenn Vickery presented Gresham with the tournament bracket.

“It’s been a great event for our community,” Vickery said. “Saw a lot of great athletes play with a high level of skill. Saw some very competitive teams give it all they had. Carver is our first champion and we hope to make this into a major showcase every year. Our (DHS) Quarterback Club did a great job helping us get this together and run it. All the volunteers and coaches that worked hard to make it a first class event and the city for providing this great site.

"I think it can only get better with all the space we have out here (at Trione Park), we can accommodate 48 teams and that would really be a big (economic) boost to our city. David McElroy (Daphne Parks and Recreation director) was on top of every detail and had the fields and everything in top shape. And when the weather cooperates like it did most of the time, it just makes it even better.”   

Unfortunately the inaugural tournament was marred by a bench-clearing incident involving a handful of players and a few spectators, possibly parents from Blount and Prattville in their semifinal game. According to the tournament rules, both teams were disqualified from further play. Blount, coached by former Daphne defensive coordinator Tim Hurt, was the No. 1 seed out of pool play and along with No. 2 seeded Carver had a first-round bye into the elimination phase.

“It’s always unfortunate to have something like that happen, but the officials and coaches did a good job of getting things settled,” Vickery said. “The rules are there to be followed and they were.”

The rules state: Any player involved in, “fighting or unsportsmanlike conduct,” will be ejected from that game for up to two incidents. A third offense will result in the player’s ejection from the tournament. If any player leaves the sideline to participate in such conduct, as happened Saturday, “the entire team will be ejected from the tournament.”

Bayside Academy made it to the quarterfinals with an overall 4-5 record before falling to eventual third-place Auburn. Robertsdale went 3-4-1 overall with two wins over Williamson and a tie with Charles-Henderson. When the two Baldwin teams met in pool play Saturday morning, the Admirals pulled away from a 17-17 tie with about four minutes left in the game for a 26-17 win over the Golden Bears. The Admirals also defeated Williamson and Gulf Breeze in the elimination rounds.

Bayside head coach Phil Lazanby said the Admirals did well. “We didn’t win them all, but we did well. Beat some good teams, lost to some really good teams. I thought we held our own  a good bit against some top-notch atletes. So, I’m really proud of (our players). They never quit, battled, competed hard.

“But it’s also a fun way to help get ready for the season. We only do one of these, so we are not as polished. And we’re not a spread team, we’re a wing, run oriented team, but it gives our defensive backs a good chance to see formations we will have to line up against and that’s always a good benefit. And of course it will make our throwing better, when we do throw and we will. The offensive line will be stronger with a year under their belt from last season. Much of it was about rebuilding for us at OL last year.”

Robertsdale head coach and former Daphne offensive coordinator Brian Campbell said his Bears also are run oriented but got a lot out of the event.

“We made some progress over the whole two days and that’s of course what you want to see. We had a good spring and this will also be good experience for our d-backs and linebackers as well as for our passing game in the long run. But we’re really a more balanced offense based on a run-oriented set. And if you saw us play we stuck to that play-action. No 7-on-7 gadget plays. Strictly stuff from our playbook.

“We have a lot of young kids and one of the things it takes for them to improve is to get them to develop consistency. Little things that we see them correcting on their own is really encouraging, too. They are coming around to see more and more how what we ask of them is connected to the goals we’re setting. And that just comes with experience, maturity and pride in your work ethic. So I’m proud of how it’s going. Saw some real good competition and all that can do is make you get better.”

Bayside will open the regular season on the road in Troy at Charles Henderson and looking for payback after the Trojans edged the Admirals in Daphne last year. Robertsdale will play a preseason game at Satsuma and open their season at home with Mary G. Montgomery. 6A Daphne will host 2012 5A state champion and municipal neighbor Spanish Fort at Jubilee Stadium. Each of those regular-season openers are set for Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. Last year’s first ever meeting between DHS’ Trojans and SF’s Toros in football was broadcast on ESPN. Both teams won state titles in their division in 2010.

The Toros won last year’s game 20-14. The event was dedicated to the recovery of Daphne assistant coach Jacy Todd who was still in critical condition from an auto accident a month earlier. Todd rejoined the team late last season. Now, able to stand and take some steps on his own, he is back on the field coaching mainly from his wheelchair but still anticipating walking unaided again.

See more on that ESPN game at: http://www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com/article_474149d0-f65b-11e1-b9d6-001a4bcf887a.html