Lions make deep run at state tournament
Albany’s 7-on-7 football team advanced to the quarterfinals at the Division III State Tournament in College Station June 26-27, finishing among the top eight teams in the state.
The Lions went 3-0 in pool play Thursday, securing the No. 1 seed in their bracket with a last-second win over Tidehaven. Albany opened with a 24-12 win over Hico, followed by a 32-28 victory over Tidehaven and a 14-7 win against Wolfe City.
“The Tidehaven game was really the only one I can remember with a big highlight,” said Branson Beal, who coached the team alongside fellow recent Albany graduate London Fuentes. “Slade Windham caught a touchdown on the very last play of the game to win it for us and secure the 1 seed. There were several other really great plays, and obviously, they all played well as a team.”
In Friday’s championship bracket, Albany defeated Trinity 27-14 and edged Bosqueville 33-27 before falling in overtime to Hearne, 14-13, in the quarterfinals. Thirty-two teams advanced from Thursday’s pool play, with four teams from each side of the bracket reaching the final eight.
Tidehaven, who came out of the same pool as Albany, went on to win the Division III championship with a 34-21 victory over Ganado in the title game.
Quarterback Aiden Vickers started every game, and all 13 team members made the trip and saw playing time.
“These guys will be a lot more experienced after going to this tournament,” Beal said. “That will help on both sides of the ball during the regular football season.”
Albany qualified for state at a June 6 tournament in Abilene, going 4-0 with wins over Merkel, Dublin, Miles, and Tolar. This marked the program’s sixth state appearance since 2015.
Local support helped fund the trip, and Beal thanked the Albany Chest, The Feed Store, Chelsea Parsons and Ashley Giddings (shirts), and all those who contributed.
Team members were Breylon Billington, Blake Britting, Calhan Fairchild, Wesley Gleitz, Christian Hernandez, Mason McCloy, Bennett Neece, Woods Peterson, Jakobi Roberson, Jaxson Street, Aiden Vickers, Slade Windham, and Lyle Wheeler.
