Arlington Lamar’s 7 on 7 Streak Stands Alone
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Updated: July 5, 2010
By Chris Mycoskie (lamarvikings.com)
VIKINGS PREPARE FOR 13TH STRAIGHT STATE TOURNAMENT
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Lamar High School football program has long been known as a running back factory, but the summer months have shown that Viking players can work the passing game with the best teams in Texas, as well. For 13 straight years, LHS has qualified for the State 7 on 7 tournament, a feat unmatched by any other school.
Dating back to the first tournament in 1998, both Lamar and Colleyville Heritage reached the first 12 events, but the Panthers failed to earn a spot this time. The Vikes will play for a state title Friday, July 9, and Saturday, July 10, at Texas A&M University in College Station, with the tournament culminating in the championship game at historic Kyle Field Saturday afternoon.
The Vikings have finished in third place three times, marking their best performances at State 7 on 7. The first occasion came in 2003, with the run ending in the semi-finals against Odessa Permian. Lamar reached the semi-final round again in 2007, falling one point short of a championship berth against Houston Stratford. The Vikes repeated the feat in 2008, again losing just shy of the finals. Lamar almost always makes noise in the tournament, having advanced out of pool play and into the championship bracket in 10 of the last 12 years.
While Lamar has never captured a state championship, the Vikings have won two national titles in 7 on 7 play. LHS captured the 2003 crown at the national tournament in Houston. Two years later, with the tournament hosted in their hometown of Arlington, the Vikings won another national competition.
Lamar players have racked up victories against some talented teams with now-famous athletes over the years. In 2005, the Vikes beat a Highland Park team that featured quarterback Matthew Stafford, who went on to the University of Georgia before becoming the first overall pick of the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL Draft. Twice, Lamar took down a Southlake Carroll squad led by Chase Daniel, the future Missouri Tigers signal caller, who now wears the black and gold of the New Orleans Saints.
The Lamar 7 on 7 program’s mission is to develop throwing, catching and coverage skills that will have a positive carryover into the football season. Of course, family vacations, work schedules and just plain time off are also important in the summer, so the head coach has to find the right balance. Jim Poynter has been leading the 7 on 7 squads since 2002. His son Ben, who went on to be four-year starter for the SMU Mustangs, was on that first team in 2002. Jim’s son Michael joined the squad later in the decade, and now plays quarterback for the Rice Owls.
Lamar met the criteria for the 2010 state tournament by capturing a co-championship at the Southlake Carroll qualifier on June 12. Due to a late start, the championship game against the home standing Dragons was not played, since it had no bearing on qualification, as the top two teams advanced. Just like the past 12 years, the Vikes qualified on the road, never utilizing home field advantage.
With a spot at state wrapped up, the Vikes were not allowed to advance into bracket play in their final two qualifying tournaments. Still, they came out with intensity and swept their pools, going 6-0, giving them a ton of momentum heading into College Station.
On the 11-man front, Lamar is coming off a 6-5 campaign, which ended with a loss to eventual state champion Abilene in the bi-district round of the playoffs. The 2010 season begins Aug. 27 at home against South Grand Prairie.
