Sports
Tigers host Lone Star Shootout 7-on-7
Thursday, 28 June 2012 by Chuck Kelly
Chase Thornal avoids a tackle during the Tigers undefeated run at the Lone Star Shootout in Belton last week. The Tigers went 5-0-1 Friday. Photo by David Tuma Some of the area's best football talent was on display Friday and Saturday at Belton High School's Tiger Stadium. Athletes from Copperas Cove, Shoemaker, China Spring and McGregor participated in the 2012 Lone Star Shootout 7-on-7.
It was an exciting two days as the Belton Red team steamrolled thru Pool Play opponents 5-0-1 and went undefeated through the Championship Bracket to the title game.
The BHS White team had a harder task in Pool Play (2-4-0) but fought thru the Bracket competition with just one loss on their way to the Consolation Title game.
The Red team got off to a slow start Friday morning, locked up in a 35-35 tie against Shoemaker Blue.
After that it was clear sailing for the Tigers as they knocked off Copperas Cove Gold 20-16, China Spring 28-23, beat Shoemaker Blue 39-25 in a rematch, Cove Gold again 37-23 and wrapped up Pool Play with a 46-28 victory over China Spring.
At 9 Saturday morning, Belton Red began the Championship Bracket with a dominating 57-0 win over Shoemaker Grey. In the semifinal game, Shoemaker Blue fell to the Tigers 36-23.
That set up the showdown against undefeated McGregor for the 2012 Lone Star Shootout Championship.
McGregor jumped out to an early 18-2 lead and after a Peter Shelburne to Derrick Bates touchdown just as time expired before the half, the Bulldogs led 18-9.
In the second half, Belton battled back and took a 37-32 lead on Bates' fourth TD of the game with about four minutes left in the game.
McGregor's Troy Allison drove his team downfield and tossed the game-winning touchdown pass for a come-from-behind 38-37win with less than a minute to play.
Belton Red's last pass attempt was incomplete in the end zone as time expired.
Belton's 7-on-7 White team defeated Shoemaker Grey twice in Pool Play,28-21 and 14-9, and lost four before heading into the Championship Bracket action Saturday.
An opening 32-14 loss to China Spring sent the White squad down the Consolation path, where the team beat Cove Gold 29-23 in the semifinal before being edged by Copperas Cove Blue 32-30 for the Consolation Championship.
China Spring was third with a slim 23-21 victory over Shoemaker Blue.
Belton placed four players on the 2012 Lone Star Shootout All-Tournament Team.
On offense, two Tiger wide receivers were selected --- Derrick Bates and Chase Thornal.
Picked for the Defensive All-Tournament Team were Belton defensive backs Garrett Curry and Nate Mitchell.
It was definitely an exciting weekend of football for the players and fans.
