The second annual North Webster Main Street Invitational 7-on-7 tournament is scheduled for Saturday at Baucum-Farrar Stadium.
In addition to the host Knights, teams competing as of press time Monday are Calvary Baptist, Homer, Magnolia, Ark., Huntington, Booker T. Washington and Green Oaks.
Play begins at 9 a.m.
Last year, North Website reached the finals, falling to BTW 22-15.
The event, which is presented by Hobbs Construction and Fundraising University-Louisiana, will have food trucks on site. Vendors include Jeff Sumlin’s Chicks Drive Thru featuring brisket stuffed baked potatoes and stuffed turkey legs, Krave House and Sunshine’S Sweets. The North Webster Knights Quarterback Club will also have a tent selling snacks.
Like all parish teams, North Webster started summer workouts this month. The Knights have been going from 9 a.m. until noon Monday through Thursday.
North Webster competed in a 7-on-7 tournament at Southern Arkansas the first week of June.
The summer workouts and 7-on-7 games are steps in preparation for the fall season.
The Knights went through spring practice in May which culminated with a scrimmage against Booker T. Washington.
Wilson said a top priority for his team in the spring and summer is the offensive line. Three linemen from last year’s team graduated and one didn’t return.
“That’s going to be the key, get guys prepared to come in and play.”
The scrimmage against BTW was a learning experience for the newcomers.
“BTW is way aggressive and they had already adjusted to the speed because Coop (BTW coach Gary Cooper) didn’t have a lot of guys leave on the defensive line and they kind of overpowered my offensive line,” Wilson said. “Aside from that we played well. We saw some bright spots. But the offensive line this summer has been key trying to get them ready to go.”
The Knights do have experience at quarterback with rising junior Justin Stewart. Another rising junior with experience is running back Braylon Washington, a playmaker last year.
In the 7-on-7 tournament, Wilson said the receivers will be rising juniors Jakayden Jackson and Zaden Frazier and rising senior J’Quarion Easter. Wilson also expects rising freshman Demarkion Lewis to contribute.
Wilson is in his third season as head coach. The Knights went 3-8 his first season and 4-7 last year.
The Knights’ new field house is expected to be ready in August, one of several recent upgrades to the school’s athletic facilities.
“That’s going to be really nice,” he said.
