Best of the best
Alma’s 7-on-7 tourney draws top football teams across the state
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
Bryan Smith knows a good thing when he sees it.
The best of the best know a good thing as well.
“Coaches love coming back here,” Smith said. “This is my 11th year to do this. Every year you find out ways to make it better. But if the coaches keep coming back, that means you’re doing something right.”
Smith started his Lumber One Tournament in the summer of 2014 at Charleston before moving the event to Alma eight years ago. Smith orchestrates everything, including the hiring of officials.
Fayetteville, Greenwood, and Bryant, who’ve combined for 22 state championships since 2000 (Greenwood’s won 11 since 2000), give the 15-team tournament some serious depth. Bryant won five straight titles (2018-22), and the Purple Dogs have won all six of their state football championships since 2007.
“I think we’re one of the most elite 7-on-7 tournaments around,” Alma football coach Rusty Bush said. “All the best teams out of northwest Arkansas, and you’ve got Greenwood and Alma, and now we have Bryant. You’ve got Fayetteville and Greenwood winning state championships (last season).
“You know you’re doing things right because people keep returning.”
Smith believes the 15-team event could evolve to 20 once Alma’s Indoor facility is christened.
But Bush wants to keep it at 15.
“This thing has gotten better and better,” Bush said. “I love to show off what we have.”
Bush initially started spring practice with a quandary of potential quarterbacks set to replace record-breaking signal caller Jackson Daily before trimming the list to three. Senior Michael Taylor, junior Samuel Schlegel, and sophomore Chase Parker got plenty of reps during Friday’s event.
“You’ve got to love what you see so far,” Bush said. “With spring ball, you don’t know because you’re playing yourself. During our first summer practice, I thought we looked better than we did in the spring. Plus, now we’ve got a team camp under our belt and some 7-on-7 games.”
Bush said the Airedales’ quarterback battle is between senior Michael Taylor and sophomore Chase Parker. Talented junior Sam Schlegel will also get some work in under center.
“It’s going to be battle all the way through,” Bush said. “Sam’s going to be in there some, too. He’s a great weapon at wide receiver, but we’ll have some stuff for Sam at quarterback, too. We’ll see how Michael and Chase do.
“You never know — we could be playing three.”
“It’s really been a three-man competition through spring and fall,” Alma offensive coordinator Payton Morris said. “We’ve got Michael Taylor, a senior, and we’ve got Chase Parker, an up-and-coming kid, and we’ve got Samuel Schlegel taking res there, too. Each one does their own thing well. Michael’s a really good leader; kids respond to him.”
Morris said Parker has plenty of potential.
“He’s got a lot of room to grow,” Morris said. “(But) I think the biggest thing is they’re all ate with it. They all enjoy the competition.”
Parker said he’s leaned on the upperclassmen.
“It really helps me go through my reads and where to go with the ball,” he said. “The team, there is a lot of seniors and a lot of playoff experience. They really know what to do, and that helps me with the offense.”
The Airedales aren’t without several two-way stars, including senior Brayden Polemat, a starting cornerback and receiver.
“Moving from safety to corner is a big difference,” Polecat said. “Playing receiver, that’s going pretty well. We had a good team camp and we’re all doing pretty good.”