Oneonta 7-on-7 next week

The high school football season doesn’t kick off for another couple of months and fall practice will not start till next month.

However, summer workouts are well underway and teams are also participating in summer camps and other competitions.

The Oneonta Redskins are hosting the second annual 7-on-7 Invitational Tournament next week at Gilbreath Stadium.

Sixteen teams will be competing in the tournament which will feature pool play on Wednesday, July 8, and Thursday, July 9. The teams are divided into four-team pools and the first two days will serve to seed the teams into a tournament bracket.

The tournament bracket – which is double elimination – will then be played out on Friday. All games will be played at Gilbreath Stadium.

Each game will last 22 minutes and Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) officials will be used.

The tournament will feature some stiff competition for local teams Appalachian, Hayden, Locust Fork, and Susan Moore – in addition to the host school.

Fairview, out of Cullman County, features 6’4 senior Trett Hardman – possibly the top quarterback prospect in the state. Springville looks to showcase 6’4 senior Jeremy Richardson – one of the top receivers in the state and a recent Auburn commitment.

The host Redskins will be looking to get the ball to 6’4 Nolen Smith who is coming off a junior season in which he tied the state record for receptions.

Also coming to the tournament is LaFayette, Ga. The Ramblers, under former Russellville head coach Perry Swindall, are loaded with athletes.

Hayden and LaFayette will each field two teams for the tournament.

Here are the pools: Pool A – Springville, Fairview, Susan Moore, Hayden B Pool B – Pinson Valley, Hayden A, Mortimer Jordan, Crossville Pool C – LaFayette A, West Point, Guntersville, Appalachian Pool D – Albertville, Oneonta, Locust Fork, LaFayette B

Games will begin at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and 10 a.m. on Friday.