By David Knox, Sports Editor
CLAY – Clay-Chalkville will host the second annual Deerfoot Invitational 7-on-7 football tournament on Wednesday, July 13.
Fifteen teams will be participating in the event, which Clay-Chalkville won last year by beating Pinson Valley in the final.
Besides the host Cougars, Pinson Valley is back in the field, along with Jefferson County schools Shades Valley, McAdory and Hueytown. Other Birmingham metro teams from Briarwood Christian, Pelham, Bessemer City and Parker will also attend. Making the drive to Clay will be Hillcrest of Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, Etowah, Gadsden City, Cullman and Prattville.
Last year’s winning 7 on 7 team from CCHS.
Among the top individual performers in the tournament are Pinson Valley wide receiver Liallen Dailey and Indians quarterback Jackie Matthews; Gadsden City running back Damon Williams; Bessemer City linebacker Jamal Brooks; Prattville quarterback Cam Taylor; Etowah quarterback Daulton Hyatt; Malcolm Askew, a four-star athlete who is committed to Auburn; Brian Robinson, a four-star running back from Hillcrest who is committed to Alabama; and the Cougars’ five-star wide receiver, Nico Collins, who has yet to commit.
The 15 teams will be in pool play in the morning and go to the championship bracket in the afternoon.
The schedule:
9 a.m.: (Pool 1) Clay-Chalkville vs. Tuscaloosa County; Hillcrest vs. Prattville; (Pool 2) McAdory vs. Parker; Cullman vs. Etowah; (Pool 3) Bessemer City vs. Briarwood Christian; Pinson Valley vs. Pelham.
9:30 a.m. (Pool 1) Clay-Chalkville vs. Hueytown; Tuscaloosa County vs. Prattville; (Pool 2) McAdory vs. Etowah; Cullman vs. Shades Valley; (Pool 3) Pelham vs. Bessemer City; Briarwood Christian vs. Gadsden City.
10 a.m. (Pool 1) Clay-Chalkville vs. Prattville; Hillcrest vs. Hueytown; (Pool 2) Etowah vs. Shades Valley; Parker vs, Cullman; (Pool 3) Pelham vs. Gadsden City; Pinson Valley vs. Bessemer City.
10:30 a.m. (Pool 1) Clay-Chalkville vs. Hillcrest; Tuscaloosa County vs. Hueytown; (Pool 2) Cullman vs. McAdory; Parker vs. Shades Valley; (Pool 3) Pinson Valley vs. Gadsden City; Pelham vs. Briarwood Christian.
11 a.m. (Pool 1) Prattville vs. Hueytown; Tuscaloosa County vs. Hillcrest; (Pool 2) McAdory vs. Shades Valley; Parker vs. Etowah; (Pool 3) Briarwood Christian vs. Pinson Valley; Gadsden City vs. Bessemer City.
The Cougars won’t take a break after the Deerfoot Invitational. The very next day, Clay will head to Hoover, joining Hewitt-Trussville and other elite teams from across the state, region and country, for the National Select 7-on-7 July 14-16..
