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Overtime and out: Leopards fall shy of 7-on-7 state bid in semifinals
BY Matt Welch, mwelch@starlocalnews.com
WYLIE -- The Lovejoy football team began last week as an alternate for Friday's Wylie 7-on-7 State Qualifying Tournament.
Uncertain to even be part of the event, the Leopards would justify their eventual entry by coming within a hairline of being in the finals. Tournament host Wylie had other plans, dashing the Leopards' latest bid for a state tournament berth with a 47-45 overtime win in the semifinals.
"I'm really proud of our kids," said Matt Green, Lovejoy head coach. "Being a late addition, they weren't prepared for this, but they came together and said that they wanted to be here."
With overtime contested in an NCAA-style format, Lovejoy's Daniel Sefcik traded blows with the Pirates by accounting for the Leopards' two touchdown receptions on catches of 5 and 2 yards. Wylie quarterback Kameron Kelly was game with two overtime touchdown passes to counter, going one step further by connecting on a two-point conversion pass for the 47-45 victory.
The Leopards had a chance at said conversion on their prior series, but failed.
"The reality is that we're a bit shorthanded right now and our program isn't as big as some of these other ones," Green said. "But I know this: our kids fight and they play hard."
The Leopards' SQT finale culminated against a Wylie squad they will see this fall for their inaugural run through Class 4A with the Leopards and Pirates slated to occupy District 13-4A.
That was a theme for Lovejoy's afternoon in Wylie, with its three prior pool play matchups contested against 4A and 5A opposition.
Slotted in Pool B, replacing Hebron, the Leopards emerged unscathed.
Lovejoy opened the tournament with a 27-6 victory over North Mesquite that featured touchdown receptions by Cullon Greene, Sefcik and Zach Wilkins, plus two interceptions by Steven Larsen.
The Leopards followed with wins over Sachse (27-13) and Lake Dallas (34-33) to complete the pool sweep.
"We played some teams that were super athletic and well coached," Green said. "I thought our team responded well and we had to fight in every game. There wasn't an easy one out there and they battled the whole way."
Of note was Sells quarterbacking the Leopards the whole way while spring ball and 2011 signal caller Zach Saffle saw reps at receiver and defensive back.
"This is good for [Sells]," Green said. "He's going to eventually grow into being a quarterback for us. I'm not sure where he fits right now, but I do know that Zach Saffle is our leader.
"Zach is our quarterback right now."
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