Matanzas and Menendez draws even in FHS 7v7 Association league contest

Matanzas traveled up I-95 on Saturday afternoon with longtime rival Menendez for a regular season FHS7v7A matchup.

The two teams met for the first time in FHS7v7A competition, however they are no stranger to each other on the Fall gridiron and over the years have shared some great battles. Saturday afternoon was no different.

Regular season competition rules for FHS7v7A member teams state that the coaches can agree prior to the contest on the format for competition that best suits their programs. In this case, Coach Patrick Turner from Menendez & Coach Robert Ripley of Matanzas decided that for the first half they would go 11 plays on offense and then switch and go 11 plays on defense. They did this for two rotations followed by a 10 play each goal line series. Both teams got in good work and were able to compete in situational offense and defense.

Both teams chose to take a much needed water break on a hot and humid April afternoon while both coaches discussed the 2nd half competition. With the 2015 FHS7v7A Regional Qualifying Tournament just a week away, Coach Turner and Coach Ripley agreed to tournament style format, with play starting at the 40yd line and three downs to reach a first down, with first down marks coming at the 25 and 10 yard lines.

The visiting Matanzas team went on offense first, and with some calculated execution, were threatening to score on the first drive, but the Menendez defense answered back with a drive ending interception at the 12 yard line. Defense claimed the focus for the majority of the second half as both teams had three consecutive offensive drives ended by opposing team interceptions. Finally late in the 2nd half, Menendez connected on consecutive passes and had it first and goal. After a completion on first down to the running back out of the backfield, Menendez connected on a strike over the middle to the back of the endzone for the first score. Matanzas took over and put together a drive of their own, ending with a nice catch in traffic, in the end zone, and the score was once again deadlocked, this time at 7-7. Time ran out, and both coaches decided to end it in a tie, after an afternoon of spirited competition.

Both teams shook hands and then came together for both coaches to address the players.

Coach Turner addressed both teams first by saying, “This is what it is all about. It is about making yourself better and your team better.” Turner went on to say “I like a lot of what I saw today on offense and defense, it was a very positive day.”

Coach Ripley also spoke to both teams and said “We got to earn it, they ain’t going to give it to us, that’s why both teams are out here and a part of this to get better.”

Before the talk concluded, Coach Turner huddled everyone up from both teams and broke it out on “Compete.” Compete was certainly what both teams did this day, on both sides of the ball.

The matchup was a fantastic example that 7v7 competition is not just about offense, that defense can take the spotlight, and defensive players take just as much away from opportunities in 7v7 as their offensive counterparts.

The Florida High School 7v7 Association State Series Playoffs start April 25th in Palm Coast for a Regional Qualifying Tournament, in which the top 4 teams will advance to the Inaugural FHS7v7A State Championship Saturday June 27th. It’s not too late to still sign up for post season play and register your team for the Qualifier on the 25th and a chance for a FHS7v7A State Title. Just visit www.FHS7v7A.com or email info@fhs7v7a.com for more information. Registration will close for postseason play on April 23rd. $25/player and $30/coach. No walkup registrations the day of the tournament will be accepted.