By Kenton Brooks
Phoenix Sports Writer
July 10, 2009 12:26 am
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Muskogee head football coach Matt Hennesy will look for more than how his players play when they participate in the 2009 Southwest Elite 7-on-7 Showcase this weekend in Springdale, Ark.
The Roughers are one of 12 teams — three from Oklahoma — invited to compete in this summer football competition that begins this afternoon and continues through Saturday. Jenks and Metro Christian also are playing..
“My big deal that this is a team-bonding deal,” Hennesy said. “We’re going to leave (this) morning, get some lunch and go play some football. We’ll spend the night, go to a movie and come back and play on Saturday.
“We’re taking our skill-position kids. We went to something like this at Kansas State in Jameel’s (Owens, now at Oklahoma) senior year. We did OK against some quality teams.”
The Roughers, including quarterback Mitch Stevenson and wide receiver-defensive back Brenton Bogar and Victor Williams, face quality immediately when they face Har-Ber High School of Springdale at 2 p.m. today in its first game of pool play. Har-Ber is the 2008 7-on-7 national champion.
Hennesy also sees his team working more on the new Wildcat offense installed by first-year offensive coordinator Rusty Harris.
“Rusty has about all of the offense in,” Hennesy said. “By the time we get to fall camp, we’ll be able to get after it.”
The 7-on-7 rules include seven defensive and six offensive players lining up and possessions starting at the 40 yard line. A center can be used on offense but no down linemen on either side of the ball are used.
Each game last 22 minutes with a running clock during the first 20 minutes. Points are awarded on touchdowns, interceptions, turnovers on downs, offensive pass interference and extra points. There are no running plays.
Muskogee’s other games in pool play include Arkansas Baptist at 3 p.m., Siloam Springs, Ark., at 4 p.m. and Fayetteville, Ark., at 5 p.m. The Roughers return to the field at 9:30 a.m. Saturday against Shiloh Christian, Ark, and follow with matchups with Mayflower, Ark., at 10:30 a.m. and Oklahoma’s Metro Christian at 11:30 a.m.
The single-elimination tournament game begins at 1:15 p.m. and the championship is 3:45 p.m. Saturday.
“If we win this, we have a chance to be invited to the national tournament,” Hennesy said.
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