The 7s season is in full swing. We take a look at what's on tap this weekend.
Newport 7s
Old Blue finished second in the nation last year and have kept their same team intact while adding several college players, especially from Arkansas State, as they look to take it a step further this year. However, first they need to get through what looks to be a very tough Northeast 7s Series. Old Blue will be missing Nate Augspurger to Eagles 7s duty but they have brought in Dylan Carrion and Harry Higgins from Arkansas State as well as Christian Adams from AIC, Paris Hollis from Life, and Michael Al-Jiboori from Oklahoma. That should give them a lot of speed and versatility.
Staying in their way are NYAC, the Bulldogs, Long Island, and Mystic River. NYAC will be missing a couple of players that could have made an impact in Troy Hall and Toby L'Estrange to Eagles duty but they still have plenty of solid players among their ranks, including Nate Brakeley. Mystic River nearly shocked NYAC in the 15s playoffs thanks to their backs. Jared Collinson and Vini Daley are beasts of players and it wouldn't be shocking to see them win the whole thing.
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Lakefront 7s
1823 head into the second leg of the Midwest series in good position after winning last weekend. If they can pull off another win this weekend in Milwaukee at the Lakefront 7s they will be in a very strong position the rest of the way. Their biggest competitor should be the Chicago Lions who are in another pool. That said, don't discount Youngbloodz or the home side Milwaukee Barbarians. The Barbarians are a solid side and with Ben Landry on the roster they should have an edge. Still, it will likely come down to 1823 and the Lions once again.
Pool A: 1823 A, CARPS, Wolfpack, Youngbloodz
Pool B: 1823 B, Chicago Blaze, Chicago Griffins, Chicago Lions A
Pool C: Milwaukee Barbarians, Grand Rapids Gazelles, Lions B, Cincinnati Wolfhounds
Austin 7s
The Austin Blacks advanced to last year's National Club 7s as winner out of the Red River Conference and they'll hope to repeat that this year. Helping them in their cause is the fact that they get to host the first leg of the Red River Series. They will be paired with the Dallas Reds, Little Rock, HEB, and OK Elite in Pool A. The Reds have been their rival over the last few years and should be once again. IN Pool B there is Ft. Worth, the Austin Huns, Prickly Pear, HARC, and Tribe. The top two teams after three Series stops advance to nationals.
Blue Ball 7s
The Army Selects were the winners last week at the Monk Vaughn 7s but now the attention turns to the Blue Ball 7s in Wilmington, Delaware. It's the second stop of three before the championships in the MAC. Expect Baltimore-Chesapeake, Schuylkill River, and NOVA to be at the top once again.
NorCal
The qualifying season also gets underway in NorCal with a tournament in Santa Rosa. The area is rich with talent as teams like the Sacramento Lions have done will in year's past. Teams that are legitimate contenders this year are about half the field in SFGG, EPA Razorbacks, Olympic Club, Lions, and the Lift West Gladiators. The Gladiators in particular are a side to watch to see if they can capitalize on their success in 15s play. The same goes for the Razorbacks while the likes of SFGG, the Lions, and Olympic Club have plenty of tradition.
SoCal
Belmont Shore were the big winners in SoCal last weekend at the OMBAC 7s. This week play turns to Arizona and the Flagstaff 7s. Once again the tournament should come down to Belmont Shore, Santa Monica, and OMBAC but don't be surprise to see an Arizona side make gains.