Now that the 2024 Texas State 7-on-7 championships are in the rear-view mirror, what did we see that caught our eye from teams as we gear up for the 2024 football season in August?

Division I

DeSoto QB Situation Gets into Focus

With new QB Kelden Ryan still settling into the offense, many wondered how he’d look stepping in for the graduated DJ Bailey. Although there’s still proving to be done when the pads come on in August, the Virginia Tech commit had a monster finish to the State Tournament. DeSoto’s offense was inconsistent at times on Friday, but Ryan saved his best for last with two flawless performances in the biggest games - a 33-19 win over Anna in the semifinals and a 38-20 win over Austin Anderson in the championship game. SMU commit WR Daylon Singleton hauled in four touchdown passes from Ryan in the DeSoto win, which wrapped up its third 7-on-7 state title in school history.

Ed Small Helps Lead Austin Anderson on Surprise Saturday Run

The Trojans are coming off competitive, but still disappointing 4-6 campaigns each of the last two seaons at the 6A level. Head coach Donald Hatcher knows that just because they are moving to 5A-Division I that a playoff spot isn’t a guarantee in 2024. However, when you’ve got TCU commit WR Ed Small out there, anything can happen. Small was a monster all weekend long and in key moments played on defense as well, including a game-saving PBU in the quarterfinal win over The Woodlands. Small is an elite route runner with good speed and next level body control. QB Max Gerlich, a UTSA commit, was also sensational for the Trojans and looked incredibly sharp Saturday. Ultimately Austin Anderson’s 2024 season will be determined by its line play, but there’s some building blocks to think this will be a team that can compete in 12-5A Division I.

Anna Adjusts to the Big School Bracket Quite Well

After a runner-up finish in Division II a year ago at State 7-on-7 and a state title in the fall in 4A-Division I, Anna made the jump to Class 5A in UIL Realignment and in 7-on-7 made the move to Division I. The Coyotes looked primed and ready to be a force after this weekend posting a strong 6-1 showing, which got them all the way to the semifinals before falling to DeSoto, 33-19. QB Ziondre Williams has grown into a leader on offense, while WR Ashton Ansley and DB Zay Gentry were outstanding as well. Anna’s young defensive line will be key when the pads come on, but underestimate Seth Parr’s team at your own peril in 2024.

Corpus Christi Miller Continues to Make Strides

In its third straight trip to the State 7-on-7, Miller had its best showing yet as the Bucs finished the weekend with a 3-2 record with losses coming to Anna in pool play and a close 26-20 loss to Colleyville Heritage in the Round of 16. Miller’s best performance was the opener Saturday when it blew past Midlothian Heritage, 40-27, with one of its best efforts of the entire summer. WR Corey Holmes continues to impress and is looking primed to sign an FBS scholarship at some point. Miller posted a 13-1 mark a year ago and looks ready to challenge for a regional crown in a wide open 5A-Division II Region IV.

PSJA North and PSJA Make Their Mark in the Consolation Bracket

Saturday was a big day in the Tri-Cities of the Valley as both PSJA and PSJA North made deep runs into the consolation bracket. PSJA North took home the crown from the consolation bracket by beating Killeen Harker Heights, 26-24. The Raiders opened Saturday with wins over Terrell, San Antonio East Central and Friendswood, before facing rival PSJA High in the semifinals. The Raiders prevailed 13-7 and then ended up taking down Harker Heights in a close one. PSJA, who went 3-1 on Saturday, earned wins over Katy Cinco Ranch, El Paso Pebble Hills and Willis.

A CUJO Resurgence?

After a couple of down seasons, Tyler under first year head coach Rashaun Woods made major strides a year ago and nearly got into the playoffs in one of the state's toughest districts, the Lions returned  to 7-on-7 play in 2024 and made their presence known with a 5-1 run on the weekend, giving eventual champion DeSoto a run for their money in a 21-14 defeat. Tyler had a boatload of young talent and if the pieces fall into place, the Lions expect to return to post-season action in 2024. 

Division II

Hamshire-Fannett Appears Ready to Contend

Slowly but surely Mark Waggoner at Hamshire-Fannett has built the Longhorns into a team that’s no longer just happy to make the playoffs. The ‘Horns have gone 8-4, 9-4 and 10-2 the last three years and 2024 could be the year they over-take rivals Silsbee and Jasper in 9-4A Division II. Led by QB Ty Bryson, the Longhorns have loads of experience back on offense and the young defense showed a lot of promise this weekend as they won the Division II title with an 18-0 shutout win over Dumas in the championship game.

Dumas Does It Again

Dumas has turned into a real 7-on-7 power over the years and the Demons, despite traveling the greatest distance of any team in the Division II bracket, always performs well on this stage. After a tough run in pool play where the Demons finished 0-3 with two close losses mixed in, the Demons rallied in the single-elimination bracket by posting four straight upset wins over Brookshire Royal, Graham, Lake Dallas and Hitchcock before running out of gas against a very strong Hamshire-Fannett bunch. Dumas will be a contender in a tough panhandle district, but the Demons are what’s unbelievable about school-based 7-on-7 in Texas as they travel great distances due to the location and don’t complain one bit and they always have among the largest fan turnouts of any school in the tournament. They are really a fun team to follow every summer.

Kilgore Turns Heads With Lockdown Defense

7-on-7 by nature is offensive game, but if you have a good defense you can really be tough to beat and Kilgore in their first ever trip to the State Tournament was one of the DCTF staff’s most fun teams to watch. The Bulldogs emerged out of the “pool of death” with a 3-0 mark and won three straight games Friday before falling in a close pool play rematch to eventual champion Hamshire-Fannett 14-6. The Bulldogs won a pair of overtime games on the weekend and still in seven games (6-1 overall record) allowed just an average of 11.2 points per game. DB Jayden Sanders turned heads with his length and athleticism, but he was one of several long and rangy DB’s who were nearly impossible to complete passes against all weekend long. Keep an eye on 2026 DB LaKeylon Graves who made quite the impression on the media in attendance as well.

Hitchcock’s Three-Peat Bid Falls Short

No team had ever won three-straight 7-on-7 titles and Hitchcock had their sights set on becoming the first school to pull the feat off and the Bulldogs, led by Texas Tech commit QB Lloyd Jones came close to doing it, but HHS was upset in the semifinals by a surging Dumas bunch from the Panhandle. It was a bit of an uneven tournament for the Bulldogs who started out the State Tournament  taking one on the chin in a 28-6 loss to Lake Dallas. Hitchcock bounced back winning five straight games before the semifinal loss. Hitchcock’s 23-8 win over Austin LBJ in the quarter-final round was among the best single game performances of the entire tournament.

Mineral Wells A Possible Sleeper in 2024?

If you are looking for a possible sleeper to make some noise in 4A-Division II, Palo Pinto County may be a good place to start as Mineral Wells could be ready to take a step forward in year two under Cody Worrell. The Rams headliner is Texas Tech commit TE Preztynn Harrison, but led by a defense that brings back eight starters, the Rams are primed to do good things. Mineral Wells in their first trip to College Station in several years put on a strong performance going 5-0 before falling to eventual champion Hamshire-Fannett 28-19 in the quarter-final round. The Rams in their first three games Friday allowed a combined 22 points showing why their defense expects to be much improved.

Division III

New Year, Same Old Gunter

The more things change in TXHSFB the more they stay the same and for Gunter that means winning in just about everything they do. New QB Preston Tarpley, an elite kicker who is getting D1 looks, showed he can sling it around with the best of them as Gunter won the Division III crown, their second 7-on-7 title in school history. It wasn’t easy for the Tigers as their final four wins Friday where by a combined 22 points, but in key moments, Gunter showed their championship mettle.

“The Killa” Isn’t Going Anywhere

A loose translation of El Maton is “The Killer” and Tidehaven wears the moniker proudly on their 7-on-7 jerseys that say “The Thrilla from the Killa” and the Tigers showed they won’t be forgotten about after their state title game run last fall. The Tigers didn’t look sharp in qualifying, but they were ready for the moment in Aggieland with a 7-1 mark. After back-to-back one point wins in the Round of 16 and quarter-finals, Tidehaven put on a show with a 21-0 win over Lexington to set up a rematch with Gunter, where THS fell short in a 20-14 loss.

Get to Know Jacksboro’s Cannon Valenzuela

If you don’t know Jacksboro four-sport stud Cannon Valenzuela get to know him as the Colorado State commit made waves among the media this weekend showing elite athleticism to go along with a big and physical frame. Jacksboro posted a more than respectable 3-2 mark at the State Tournament, falling by one point to Tidehaven in the Round of 16. The real question is will Colorado State be able to hang on to Valenzuela who is sure to see interest picking up as he’s no longer one of the state’s best kept secrets.

Rice Consolidated Ready to Breakout

The Raiders haven’t posted a winning season since going 11-2 in 2018, but with nine starters back on both sides of the ball, Brad Dumont’s bunch looks like they are ready to take the next step. Rice went 5-2 on the weekend with both losses coming at the hands of eventual champion Gunter in one-score games. WR/DB D’Nyerian Fuller is a name to watch when catching the Raiders in 2024.

2A-Divison I Number One Ganado Looks the Part

After their surprise run to a state semifinal a year ago, Ganado got the DCTF pick as the number one team in the 2A-Division I pre-season poll and the Indians performance in College Station did nothing to dissuade us from that take. Ganado rolled to a 5-0 start in the tournament in flat out dominant fashion with two-double digit wins to open pool play over Eastland and Sonora before slipping past Lexington 26-19 to close out pool play. Ganado then looked like a buzz-saw in bracket play with a 26-0 win over New Waverly to open the bracket and then rolling to an easy 34-0 win over Iraan in the Round of 16. Ganado’s run to a possible title was cut short in the quarter-finals in a one-point loss to Tidehaven 14-13, but overall Ganado’s stock remains high after their summer 7-on-7 work.