June is busy for football programs in the state, with camps, shootouts and showcases throughout the month.
Last week at Homestead, 21 teams competed in the 9th Annual OPS 7v7 Summit City Shootout.
A closer look at some of the storylines:
Michael White’s Stellar Performance
Homestead quarterback Michael White showcased exceptional skills throughout the day, showing a clear step forward from his sophomore campaign last year. While 7-on-7 may not fully simulate game conditions, it does reveal a quarterback’s grasp of the offense. Throughout the tournament, White impressed with precise passes to multiple receivers, demonstrating deep throws and goal-line accuracy. With Homestead’s quarterback legacy in mind, White appears set for a breakout junior year after throwing for over 1,000 yards last season to go with 15 total touchdowns.
South Side’s Promising Development
The Archers, a young program with many underclassmen in key roles, displayed growth against tough opponents like SAC rivals Snider and Homestead during the event. South notably defeated Snider and narrowly lost to the Spartans, highlighting the Archers’ competitive spirit. Beyond the scores, what stood out was their positive team culture – players supporting each other – a departure from past seasons. This shift could mark a significant turning point as the Archers aim for greater strides this upcoming campaign in Year 2 for Coach Andre Goodwell.
Leo’s Continued Strength
Despite losing key players – including standout Kayden Hurst – Leo shows no signs of slowing down after last year’s impressive run to semistate. Many NE8 fans are hoping to see the Lions take a step back in 2024, but the action at the Shootout showed that Coach Jason Doerffler’s squad is poised for another great year. With a solid senior class led by Landin Hoeppner and competition at quarterback between juniors Grayson Esguerra and Titus Stoller, Leo will likely remain a force to be reckoned with in the conference and beyond.
North Side’s Exceptional Skill Players
Once again, North Side boasts some of the area’s top individual talent, with Tristen Newsome and Jamari Pearson excelling on both offense and defense during the Shootout. Freshman quarterback Brandon Sanders, making his high school debut, benefited from the athletes around him as he helped propel the Legends to their third-straight Big Division title in the event. North has had some of the best athletes in the state for the past decade. The challenge for the Legends will be in the trenches. An answer to how stout they can be there won’t begin to be answered until Week 1 at Northridge.
Jamison Roach: A Rising Star at Adams Central
If Jamison Roach isn’t yet on your radar, he soon will be. In the realm of Class A football, the Adams Central program stands as a perennial contender, with Roach poised to play a pivotal role in their upcoming campaigns. Despite the occasional oversight of smaller schools, Coach Michael Mosser and the Flying Jets consistently deliver winning seasons, evidenced by their three consecutive trips to the state finals. The sophomore Roach’s impressive performance included commanding throws across the field and contributing on defense at safety. Now in Class 2A due to Success Factor, Adams Central is looking to make its presence known – with Roach a big part of that quest as AC looks to open up the offense a bit with its sophomore star-to-be.
Holbrook Hype
Accustomed to seeing the top signalcallers in the area in Fort Wayne and Allen County? You may have to travel up LaGrange to see one this fall.
Brayden Holbrook is set to start his third season as QB1 for Lakeland, and he looked every bit of a seasoned vet at the Shootout, smoothly running the offense and making consistent throws for a Lakers squad that finished undefeated on the weather-shortened day.
Holbrook threw for 1,700 yards and 14 touchdowns a year ago with an offense that had just a handful of seniors. While Cole Frost has graduated, the rest of Lakeland’s receivers are back, as is 1,000-yard rusher Sean Conley, still just a junior.
At 6-foot-4 and close to 200 pounds, Holbrook has opened some eyes at the D-1 level with his potential for growth both into his body and his skill set. A scholarship offer from Miami (OH) is testament to that.
Putting 7-on-7 into Perspective
While 7-on-7 tournaments provide valuable practice and exposure, their outcomes don’t always predict regular-season success. Despite Snider’s underwhelming performance, history shows such events don’t define its season (look no further than last year’s state title for the Panthers) after questions regarding its summer. Offensive Coordinator Brandon Phelps emphasized these tournaments as opportunities for growth across positions, reinforcing the Panthers’ commitment to improvement. But at the end of the day it’s what happens when you have all 11 guys on the field that really matters (we haven’t forgotten you, linemen). Panthers star Brandon Logan was noticeably absent from the tournament, but that left room for players like Jamarion Kolagbodi to shine on both sides of the ball for the Panthers.
Overall, it was another great tournament that saw many of the areas best showcase their skills.
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