Matt Wixon

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas – As they posed for photos after winning the Fox Sports Southwest 7-on-7 Division II championship, Celina players held up three fingers. That was for the three 7-on-7 state championships the Bobcats have now won.

Hard to believe that a team like Celina, which still favors a power running game in the fall, has won more titles than any other school in the pass-only tournament.

"We are a running team," running back Jose Romero said after Celina beat Rice Consolidated, 35-19, in the title game. "But we want teams to know we can pass."

Celina certainly could pass in the second half of its crowning game at Kyle Field. Celina trailed, 19-7, after Consolidated scored on its first possession of the second half. But Celina scored on its next four possessions and picked off three passes to take control of the game. Romero, who was named the game's MVP, caught two of quarterback Cody Worrell's four touchdown passes in the second half.

Celina also won the 7-on-7 title in 2000, when there was only one division for schools of all sizes, and it won Division II in 2007. In both of those years, Celina also won traditional football titles in the fall.

Plano rolls: Plano lost a lot of offensive firepower from last year's team, but the Wildcats averaged 48 points in their three victories. Could it be some evidence that Plano, which must replace its top passer, rusher and receiver, will again have a strong team in the fall?

"I think we've got a lot more athletes spread around this year and not just a few key guys," said senior defensive back Brandon McCalister.

Defending champ ousted: Richland, which won the Division I title last year and then followed up by winning a national tournament, finished 2-1 in pool play but didn't advance to the 32-team championship bracket.

The top two teams in each bracket advance, and Richland was in a three-way tie for first with DeSoto and Abilene Cooper.

The tiebreaker is total points scored, and the edge went to Cooper and DeSoto, which is making its first 7-on-7 state appearance.

Briefly: Arlington schools had a strong showing, with Arlington, Arlington Lamar and Arlington Bowie each advancing to the championship bracket. Arlington and Lamar were undefeated in pool play and Bowie was 2-1. Lamar has advanced to the semifinals the last two years. ... Denton Guyer and Birdville were the other area teams to finish undefeated in pool play. Birdville won its games by an average of 17 points. ... Like DeSoto, Plano East and Coppell finished 2-1 in pool play and advanced to the championship round on tiebreakers. Coppell's 36-13 win over Tomball in its final pool game gave it 83 total points and the tiebreaker over Tomball, which scored 82.

Area schools that advanced to the 32-team championship round of the Fox Sports Southwest 7-on-7 Division I Championship:

Arlington

Arlington Bowie

Arlington Lamar

Birdville

Coppell

Denton Guyer

DeSoto

Plano

Plano East

Southlake Carroll

Wylie

Note: The 32-team championship round begins today at 9 a.m.