Competitiveness and good defense were on clear display Thursday night at Straughn’s 7-on-7 football tournament as the host team beat Flomaton 9-8 in the title game solely on defense.

“In all of my years watching 7-on-7 tournaments, this was a first in which neither offense on the teams scored,” SHS head coach Trent Taylor said. “It was a defensive effort.”

In addition to SHS and FHS, teams from Andalusia, Red Level, McKenzie and Pleasant Home participated in the tournament, which started off in pool play.

Straughn worked its way up the ladder through pool play to beat Flomaton in the final game of the day.

The biggest positive that Taylor said he noticed was how well-conditioned his players looked.

“The biggest thing thing I noticed there was that our kids were in pretty good shape,” he said. “We didn’t seem to tire out. It makes me think that we’ve done something right this summer in the weight room and in conditioning.”

For Andalusia, head coach Brian Seymore said the team’s performance was a mix and match of good and bad.

“At times it was good, and at other times we could’ve done a little better,” Seymore said. “Everytime you go out there you want to be competitive, and our kids competed.”

Naturally at 7-on-7 tournaments, the passing game is used the most on offense.

It’s something the team doesn’t work on every day, Seymore said.

“Right now, our area of concentration will be put on basic offense and defense,” he said.

During the tournament, the Bulldogs lost to Flomaton, and in that match up Seymore said the Canes played “better.”

“They were better than us,” Seymore said. “We had a chance in the end to win the game. I’ve got to give them credit.”

After spending a couple months in the weight room, and working on various plays on offense and defense, 7-on-7 tournaments provide a venue for players to get in touch with their competitive side.

That’s exactly what the case was for Red Level.

“I probably saw more bad things than good, but our guys are competitive, and that’s what I wanted to see,” RLS head coach Tony Ingram said. “I was pleased with our level of conditioning.”

On the offensive side of the ball, Ingram said he would like to pass the ball a lot more, which the tournament provided for his team.

“Overall, I was pleased with our effort and competitiveness,” he said. “The kids were upset that we didn’t win, but you have to take it as what it is.”

Other than finding their competitiveness, Ingram said the defense looked good, too.

“I think we got more good out of that,” he said. “We run a lot of man coverage, and this gives passage to that.”

Each team that played in the tournament will have the opportunity to work on those things that need improving next Mon., Aug. 2 when the Alabama High School Athletic Association allows the start of fall football practice.