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'Border Bash' slated at SRSC
Monday, June 21, 2010
By PAUL MONTANA - Bulletin Sports Writer
It’s a question every football coach must deal with: In a team sport like football, how do players hone their skills in the offseason?
Magna Vista coach Joe Favero is debuting one idea: A 7-on-7 passing football tournament open to all varsity football teams.
Beginning Tuesday at 9:30 a.m, 12 teams from southwest Virginia and parts of North Carolina will compete in the tournament, dubbed the “Border Bash,” at Smith River Sports Complex.
“Basically, it’s to get the skill position kids a chance to work out and compete against other teams and play in a competitive atmosphere,” Favero said. “And then to use that as something to help them get ready for the season, get them excited about the football season coming up.”
Favero said that the plan initially was to have the tournament pit eight teams from Virginia against eight teams from North Carolina hence, the “Border Bash” title. The tournament, though, was only able to lure four North Carolina schools to participate.
Two referees per field will enforce the rules, which include a 15-second play clock, no running plays and gaining 20 yards for a first down. In addition, the quarterback has four seconds to throw a pass to avoid being “sacked.”
The defense may also score points. Two points are awarded for a defensive stop and three for an interception.
“Especially in high school football, it’s very rare that you get four seconds to throw the ball, and it’s very rare that you send out every eligible receiver for a pass,” Favero said. “The offense has an advantage, so we tried to give a good emphasis on stops and interceptions.”
Games will be 20 minutes with a running clock, except for the final two minutes. Each field will be marked at 40 yards in length.
Participating high school teams from Virginia include MVHS, Bassett, Tunstall, Franklin County, GW-Danville, William Campbell and James River.
North Carolina teams include Alleghany, Morehead, Bartlett-Yancey, and Cummings.
Magna Vista is forming two teams with its players, in order to make a more logistically feasible twelve-team tournament.
“Hopefully we can do a good job this year, and get people wanting to come back (next year),” Favero said. “Hopefully the word will get out there that we did a good job, and that it’s a good tournament to be in.”
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