Steers 7on7 qualifies for State Tournament

The Graham Steers 7on7 squad will get a shot to defend its 2017 Division II 7on7 title after qualifying for the 2018 state tournament last Saturday. On May 26 in the Hurst DII State Qualifying Tournament, the team defeated Brock in the qualifying round to earn their trip to College Station next month. With the game tied in the closing seconds, quarterback Hunter Lanham dropped back and fired a heave to Daniel Gilbertson. The ball tipped off Gilbertson's hands and Marcus Clark made the grab just before the ball reached the grass to send the Steers' to the state tournament. Graham took down Fort Worth Benbrook in pool play action earlier in the day. This past weekend, the Steers competed in the Brock State Qualifying Tournament. After a tough one-point loss to the Eagles to open the tournament, Graham took down Mineral Wells and Dublin. The 2018 State 7on7 Tournament begins on Thursday, June 28 with pool play. June 29 will feature regular bracket play, which will be determined on how the team does in regular pool play. The Steers 7on7 team is scheduled to compete at Breckenridge, Thursday June 7 against Mineral Wells and Breckenridge beginning at 7 p.m. before competing in the Jim Ned Qualifying Tournament on June 15. The team got contribution up-and-down its young roster throughout the day. Clark, Gilbertson, Lanham, Zach Martin, Salvador Mendez, Corey Ballew, Brayden Alaniz, Tyler Headrick, Trey Overcash, Raider Horn, Ethan Hughes, Tristen Mathews, Brandon Palacios and JJ Lee each played a role in clinching a birth in the state tournament.