The Shawn Gauthier lead Impact included a High School 7v7 tournament with their Youth Showcase program
A vision that started as an alternative fall league, then a spring league, and now youth showcases. Has evolved once again. Included in this weekends Showcase at Greenland High School is a High School 7v7. While slightly an 11th hour decision it still brought in several of Northwest Arkansas and River Valley talent. Gentry All-Conference QB Senior Chris Bell and Elkins All-State RB Junior Da’Shawn Chairs joined Rogers All-Conference Freshman Linebacker Braxton Lindsey being the notables from Northwest Arkansas. Out of the River Valley a host of Greenwood Bulldogs made the trek up I-49.
Split into three teams Red, Black, and White. Team Black looked to be the most complete set of athletes that had played together at their local school with all but one member (FS Northside) hailing from Greenwood.
In the first game Da’Shawn Chairs quickly showed why he was an All-State selection for the Elks finding his way through the Team Black secondary and handling defensive duties. The Kane Archer led Team Black would show the same prowess that Greenwood fans saw a few times this past fall. Cash Archer made his presence known early with a couple QB rushes (a rule that was quickly changed) and then an interception. An interesting fold to the 7v7 tournament was a One on One competition to decide the winner of Game 1. Team White would pit their best receiver against Greenwood’s All-Conference Cornerback Landon Nelms. An underthrown pass was broken up by Nelms. Team Black had to score to win the game as Greenwood Sophomore Isaiah Arrington would get the pass from Archer for the T.D.
The 2nd game had Team Black facing the Chris Bell led Team Red that included Braxton Lindsey and Van Buren’s Jadyn Johnson. Chris Bell would go to Braxton Lindsey several times, but it was a catch by Isaiah Arrington that set the tone for the game. Jumping one handed in the back of the end zone while covered for the score got the biggest reaction. Team Black would go on to win Game 2.
Game 3 was Team Red vs Team White. Bristow, Oklahoma’s Darien Dansby would be the go to receiver early on mounting a large lead that would be erased with Chris Bell finding Braxton Lindsey several times in the end zone. This set up a Team Red vs Team Black Championship.
In the 4th game, Team Black and Team Red traded scores with Archer and Bell trading touchdowns. From there Team Black took a convincing win with TD passes to Arrington, L.J. Robins, Kaylor Jasna, and Cash Archer. Noah Chaser and Northside’s Issac Wright would have several clutch catches throughout the tournament as well. Team Black would be crowned the Champions of the first Impact 7v7 Tournament.
While the Tournament still has some kinks to work out, it accomplished the biggest part of the vision of Impact Sports. To bring something different for the Athletes of the four state area.
