LITTLE ROCK — The Bryant Hornets quarterbacks receivers and secondary went 4-2 on the first day and 2-2 on the second at the annual Arkansas 7 on 7 Classic hosted by Little Rock Christian and Pulaski Robinson High Schools Thursday and Friday.
On Thursday, the Hornets beat Bauxite 25-8 then Lake Hamilton 29-17. Pulaski Robinson edged Bryant 14-11 but the Hornets bounced back to dismiss Arkansas Baptist 20-16 and Hot Springs 27-6. They wrapped up the day with a 22-16 loss to Greenbrier in bracket play.
On Friday, Bryant defeated Fountain Lake, 24-9, then lost to DeSoto Central from Mississippi, 24-14 and Arkansas Baptist 26-14.
“The first day, we were pretty crisp on both sides of the ball and I thought we threw and caught well,” said Bryant offensive coordinator Lance Parker. “We did what we were supposed to do. I think, the second day, we just kind of zapped and, after lunch, we were just kind of dead and didn’t have much enthusiasm.
“I thought, for the most part, we were able to get out of it what we wanted,” he asserted. “We wanted to throw and catch. We wanted to see DB’s (defensive backs) see balls in the air. We wanted to see guys compete. There was good and bad but I think we did a good job of competing.”
Parker emphasized that Bryant’s offensive scheme doesn’t include some of the strategy that is conducive to great success at 7-on-7.
“For us, at least on the offensive side, we’re not going to change what we do to try to win that style of football,” he explained. “What I like about it is — you know, a lot of times stuff gets covered and you’ve got to throw stuff that, in normal situations, I tell the quarterback to just take off running. But we’re getting to see receivers in traffic make plays. We see bump man coverage even though we probably won’t see that during the season at all. It’s just a chance to see how they do when things aren’t going like it’s planned on.”
Parker referenced the game against DeSoto Central as an example.
“Their defensive backs, they were holding, but we wanted to see our receivers and what they’re going to do when they’re being held and being knocked around, to see what they do under adversity,” he said. “I think it’s good adversity for them. We see who wants to have fun, who wants to play and who wants to make excuses. I think we did a good job for the most part.”
The Hornets host a final 7-on-7 on Monday. The two-week dead period begins on June 22 with the annual Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star week. Bryant’s scheduled to play 7-on-7 at Malvern on July 8 then attend a team camp at Maumelle the next day. On July 16, the Hornets will host a team camp.
Fall practices commence on Monday, Aug. 3.
