Matt Wixon

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Two of Cedar Hill's biggest strengths this season will be a potent running game and a physical defense. Not surprisingly, Cedar Hill coach Joey McGuire isn't sure how his team will do in its first appearance in the FOX Sports Southwest 7-on-7 State Championship.

In 7-on-7, every offensive play must be a pass. And defenders won't be allowed to make intentional contact with receivers in the tournament, which begins today in College Station, Texas.

"I've never been a fan of 7-on-7 because it's so set up for the offense," McGuire said. "For the defense, I think it can teach them some bad habits."

Such as not being aggressive enough. The 7-on-7 rules say "responsibility to avoid contact is with the defense" and press coverage at the line of scrimmage is prohibited. It can be a tough adjustment for defensive backs.

"In one game this year, we had one of our defensive backs get flagged for pass interference on seven plays in a row," McGuire said.

So why even play?

Because 7-on-7 undoubtedly benefits an offense's timing and chemistry. Defenders can also improve their coverage skills, even if no contact is allowed. The 7-on-7 competition also motivates players to work hard and stay in shape.

"It's just something to get you on the field," said DeSoto receiver Darius Terrell, whose team is making its state debut. "It's good carryover from the spring."

If DeSoto or Cedar Hill wins the tournament, it would stun some people. Each has a junior quarterback with pretty good passing skills – Driphus Jackson at Cedar Hill and Ryan Polite at DeSoto – but each team runs the ball far more than it passes. Cedar Hill might attempt more passes this weekend than it did all of last season.

FILE PHOTO 2008

In 7-on-7, each play must be a pass, and defenders are not allowed to make intentional contact with receivers.

So in an all-pass game, Cedar Hill might have a tough time hanging with teams such as Richland, the defending state and national 7-on-7 champion. But McGuire is now a believer in 7-on-7.

He started feeling that way when he watched his team in a qualifying tournament. Cedar Hill's defense needed to make a stop in overtime to beat Garland.

"After that, I was like, 'This is awesome,' " McGuire said. "In late June, putting our kids in that kind of a situation, it was neat to see our kids respond to that."

A team's success in 7-on-7, however, guarantees nothing in the fall. Five area teams – Richland, Mesquite, Arlington Lamar, Colleyville Heritage and Plano – made it to the 7-on-7 Division I quarterfinals last year, but only Plano won a playoff game in the fall. And a year earlier, Georgetown won the Division I 7-on-7 championship and didn't even make the playoffs in 11-on-11.

But succeeding in pressure situations, whether under the summer sun or the Friday night lights, can do a lot for a team's confidence. And with only a month until fall practice begins, 7-on-7 kickstarts the competitive drive.

"It's a good competition. It keeps everyone together," said Terrell, who has orally committed to Texas. "It's not necessarily real football, but if you're competing in anything, you want to do your best."

When: Today-Saturday

Where: Penberthy Intramural Fields, Texas A&M.

Division I (Classes 4A-5A, 64 teams): Pool play begins at 1 p.m. Friday; championship at 5 p.m. Saturday at Kyle Field.

Division II (Classes 1A-3A, 32 teams): Pool play begins 1 p.m. today; championship at 1 p.m. Friday at Kyle Field.

The 7-on-7 champions and how they fared in the fall that followed:

Division I (4A-5A)

Arlington

Arlington Bowie

Arlington Lamar

Cedar Hill

Colleyville Heritage

Coppell

Denton Guyer

DeSoto

Garland Lakeview

Hebron

Keller Central

Mansfield Legacy

Plano

Plano East

Richardson Pearce

Richland

South Garland

Southlake Carroll

Wylie

Division II (1A-3A)

Celina

Lovejoy

Melissa

Pilot Point