7-on-7 team makes good showing at state

By Sam Waller

Albany’s run in the Division III 7-on-7 State Tournament came to an end Friday, June 23 with a 27-19 loss to Daingerfield in the second round of championship bracket play.

The Lions went 3-2 at the tournament, which was played Thursday-Friday, June 22-23 at College Station’s Veterans Park. It marked the first time that Albany has won a game in the championship bracket.

“I thought we competed really well,” Albany coach Kevin Hill said.

Albany was making its fifth appearance in the state tournament, following trips in 2015-16, 2019, and 2021.

Albany finished second in Pool B on Thursday, opening with a 20-0 shutout of Ganado before falling to pool winner Gilmer Harmony 25-18. The Lions bounced back to beat Sudan 19-6 to earn a spot in the championship bracket.

In Friday’s bracket, Albany started with a 19-13 victory over Rogers before falling to Daingerfield.

Hill said Albany’s biggest shortcoming was a lack of depth in what he termed a war of attrition.

“You can have 20 on a roster and most teams had at least 15 if not the full 20,” Hill said. “We started with 11 on Thursday, then Zane Waggoner had a prior commitment, and Wyatt Windham wasn’t feeling well, so neither one of them played Friday.”

Windham was sidelined after becoming dehydrated on Thursday even though all games were played on grass fields because of a heat advisory.

“We were down to nine guys against teams who could bring in a whole defense and rest the offense,” Hill said. “Then they had subs on top of that. Those fourth, fifth, sixth games are very difficult.”

Albany was one of six Class 2A Division II programs in the Division III field, more than half of which was from Class 3A Division II. Both Albany losses were against teams from District 11-3A DII. Sudan was Albany’s only opponent from 2ADII.

“I think those East Texas teams were kind of used to that humidity,” Hill said. “I’ll take dry heat any day. Daingerfield had a full squad and was rolling in different receivers and different defensive backs just about every series.”

Miles, a District 6-2A DII opponent for the Lions, repeated as Division III champion by defeating Poth 22-20 in the final. The Bulldogs, who swept Pool F, visit Albany on Oct. 6.

Hawley, which hosts Albany on Sept. 15, swept Pool C but was eliminated by Merkel in the first round of bracket play.

Against Ganado, Chip Chambers, who passed for 15 touchdowns in the tournament, connected with Calhan Fairchild, Adam Hill, and Windham for scores. Branson Beal caught a conversion pass and had an interception on defense. Fairchild also picked off a pass, and Lanxton Viertel had a conversion reception.

Against Harmony, Albany scored first on a reception by Adam Hill but trailed 12-6 at halftime. The Lions pulled within 19-18 with five minutes remaining on scoring catches by Beal and Hill. Windham had an interception to set up Hill’s second TD.

Against Sudan, Windham scored the first TD, and Woods Peterson added the PAT that secured the win. After an interception by Waggoner, Calhan Fairchild and Cason Fairchild caught TD passes.

Cason Fairchild saw limited action at quarterback during pool games in relief of Chambers.

Against Rogers, Adam Hill caught Chambers’ first TD pass of the day with Beal catching the next two to help Albany advance.

Against Daingerfield, Beal caught two scoring passes with Calhan Fairchild catching one. Adam Hill had an interception.

Kevin Hill said that, while short with only two tournaments before state, Albany had a productive summer season.

“I think the teamwork, and getting and staying in shape kind of wet your whistle,” he said. “Now we’re waiting for the pads.”