Jefferson wins Sling N Shoot

Posted Jul 26, 2010 by Adam Adkins

Updated Jul 26, 2010 at 11:03 AM

Jefferson bested a 28-team over the weekend at USF to win the Sling N Shoot 7-on-7 tournament.

The Dragons capped a two-day grind Sunday with a win over Fort Meade in the championship game after knocking off Plant in the semifinals.

The tournament victory, Jefferson’s second at the event in the past four years (the Dragons also won in 2007), caps a successful summer of competition and gives the Dragons another positive on which to build in anticipation for the start of the 2010 season, which is just more than a month away.

“There’s no question it’s good for morale, but the kids also know that 7-on-7 is completely different from the real game,” Jefferson coach Mike Fenton said. “But it does do well for our morale, and the competition level was really, really good with almost everybody that we played. There were a lot of good teams there.”

The Dragons were without two of their bigger-named players in receiver Chris Moore, who missed the event after recently undergoing minor surgery, and linebacker/tight end Ramik Wilson, who was about 90 miles away competing in another 7 on 7 tournament, the ESPN sponsored Gridiron Kings.

Still, behind usual offensive stalwarts, quarterback Quentin Williams and receiver Andre Davis, and some others players who rose to the occasion the Dragons were able to muster enough offensive firepower to find their way.

“Andre and Quentin obviously put on a show. They’re always doing well,” Dragons offense coordinator Jeremy Earle said. “But some guys that really stepped up for us were Adrian Jenkins, who is going to be a junior this year; he really did well. And Andre Holloway, the kid who came over from Countryside, he did very well and really kind of solidified his role on the team and really kind of came out of his shell, and that was good to see.”

Fenton also was impressed with the defense.

“Our defense really kept us in almost every game. They came up with big interceptions and stops,” the coach said. “(Defensive back) Rashad Dunnigan was just awesome.”