Sixty-four teams from Class 6A, Class 5A and the large private schools will descend on College Station this weekend to compete in the 21st annual Adidas Texas 7-on-7 State Championships. The margin for error in the 7-on-7 game is incredibly thin and making picks is not easy, as in reality about 40 teams in the tournament could potentially make a run in single elimination play on Saturday. 

That won’t prevent us from giving it a shot, we’ll take a look at five teams who we think have a great chance to win the title on Saturday. The big key to making a run isn’t Day 1 as many teams have posted 3-0 records in pool play and looked unbeatable, only to stumble on Day 2 in bracket play. The keys for a deep run are getting off to a strong start the second day. That early game on Saturday is ripe with upsets as teams can sometimes come out after the quick turnaround and look very sluggish. Depth is also a big factor as playing up to eight games in two days in the summer heat can wear teams down.

Here are five teams to keep an eye on as possible title contenders in the Division I bracket:

Lake Travis: The defending champions are looking to become just the third school to win three 7-on-7 titles and they’ve got the firepower to do it with junior QB Hudson Card (Texas verbal commit) and senior WR Garrett Wilson (Ohio State verbal commit) leading the offense. Wilson was unstoppable last year during the Cavs' run to the title including an incredible Hail Mary catch in the semifinals that propelled LTHS to the crown. There’s no question the Cavs offense will be a force, and if the defense – led by S Hunter Henry – plays well, a repeat could be in order.

Hutto: The Austin area has produced many great 7-on-7 teams aside from Lake Travis and Hutto could be the latest in that line in 2018. The Hippos boast a strong collection of offensive talent and they have the experience of a run to the consolation title a year ago. QB Chase Griffin (UCLA verbal commit) leads a dynamic offense and he’s got playmakers all around with RB Chux Nwabuko and WR’s DJ Baptist and Caleb Forrest. The Hippos are a veteran squad and very talented, so this won’t be a team that turns away from the big stage. 

Manvel: The Mavericks are a regular at the state 7-on-7 tournament and many years have held the role of favorite, but often times on the second day they’ve struggled. Last year was a perfect example. No team had the top-to-bottom talent as the Mavericks, and no team looked as good on Day 1 as Manvel, but then they came out slow on the second day and were knocked off by College Station. This Manvel squad doesn’t have the big-name talent of previous teams, so will a more low-key version of the Mavericks break through and give Manvel their elusive crown? 

Southlake Carroll: There’s no real favorite that’s emerged out of the DFW area. There looks to be plenty of depth, but no team has really emerged from the pack based on what we’ve seen in state qualifying tournaments. When at full strength, the Dragons could be a real force with QB Will Bowers and RB T.J. McDaniel leading the way. If dynamic two-way player R.J. Mickens is available, that gives them a real dynamic weapon on both sides of the ball and immediately puts them in the conversation of contenders.

Denton Guyer: The Wildcats make their return to the State 7-on-7 Tournament after not playing in qualifying tournaments for several years. They only played in two tournaments this year but they’ve posted a strong 7-1 record with the only loss being to Southlake Carroll. The Wildcats haven’t worked much 7-on-7, but as they’ve gotten more reps they’ve improved in a big way. All eyes will be on talented 2021 QB Eli Stowers, who has an unlimited ceiling, and with a very aggressive and athletic defense, the Wildcats will be a very tough out.

If you are looking for five other dark horse teams to watch look for Houston St. Pius X, Fort Bend Ridge Point, Beaumont West Brook, Fort Worth Nolan and Rockwall to be factors.

Notably Absent

There’s a few state powers who are not at the Texas State 7-on-7 Championships for various reasons, here are a few notable teams who won’t be in College Station.

Highland Park: The Scots elect to not play in qualifying tournaments and instead participated in local leagues.

DeSoto: The Eagles fell short of qualifying for the state tournament and in their final qualifier got into an altercation with Denton High that caused both teams to suffer a one year ban on qualifying tournaments. Both teams will be eligible to play in the final week of qualifying in 2019.

Cibolo Steele: The Knights elect to not play in qualifying tournaments and instead participated in local leagues, and have never participated in a state qualifying tournament.

Converse Judson: The Rockets elected to not play in quaifying tournaments and instead participated in local leagues. They did play in the River City State Qualifying Tournament in 2017.

San Angelo Central: After playing in the State Tournament for three straight years, the Bobcats failed to qualify in three tournaments this summer.

Pool Picks

Pool A

1. Temple
2. Sachse
3. El Paso Parkland
4. Richmond Foster

Pool B

1. Cypress Falls
2. Arlington
3. Coppell
4. Abilene

Pool C

1. College Station A&M Consolidated
2. Mesquite Poteet
3. Plano Prestonwood
4. Cypress Woods

Pool D

1. Lewisville Hebron
2. Beaumont West Brook
3. Arlington Lamar
4. Katy

Pool E

1. Houston St. Pius
2. The Woodlands
3. Lovejoy
4. Georgetown

Pool F

1. Belton
2. Rockwall
3. Fort Bend Travis
4. El Paso Franklin

Pool G

1. Klein Collins
2. New Caney
3. Plano East
4. Alamo Heights

Pool H

1. Cypress Fairbanks
2. Austin Bowie
3. Mesquite Horn
4. Lake Dallas

Pool I

1. Lake Travis
2. Spring Westfield
3. Richardson Pearce
4. Mercedes

Pool J

1. Denton Guyer
2. College Station
3. Katy Tompkins
4. Laredo United

Pool K

1. Fort Bend Ridge Point
2. Arlington Bowie
3. Laredo Alexander
4. Haslet Eaton

Pool L

1. Cypress Ranch
2. Whitehouse
3. Dallas Bishop Dunne
4. Midlothian

Pool M

1. Clear Brook
2. Kaufman
3. Cedar Park Vista Ridge
4. McAllen Rowe

Pool N

1. Hutto
2. Fort Worth Nolan
3. Friendswood
4. Lubbock Coronado

Pool O

1. Austin Westlake
2. Little Elm
3. Houston Heights
4. Edcouch-Elsa

Pool P

1. Southlake Carroll
2. Manvel
3. Crowley
4. Abilene Cooper