North DeSoto traveled all the way from Stonewall, Louisiana to Hoover, Alabama to compete in the Go Hustle Up 7 on 7 National tournament. This tournament had teams from all over the southwest. Some of the nation’s top teams were in attendance. The Griffins wanted to prove that they could compete with some of the best of the best.
The Griffins came up three points short in the state finals last December. Having to replace a couple of key skill players on offense from that state finalist team, Sophomore Quarterback Luke Delafield and Junior wide receiver Cole Cory want to show that this offense can put up the points and do it quickly just like they did a season ago.
The defense looks to be just as physical and produce the turnovers just as they did a season ago. They’re led by a big group of seniors. They’ll look to BT McMillan and Lake Bates to be the leaders.
After having two successful 7 on 7 tournaments so far this summer, finishing one in 2nd place and being crowned champions in the other, this Go Hustle Up tournament was going to show what the Griffins were truly made of.
They had seven pool games. They competed against Greenville (AL), Father Ryan (TN), Cherokee (GA), Carrollton (GA), Niceville (FL), Madison Ridgeland (MS), and Mary Montgomery (AL). The Griffins did well in this portion of the tournament. They went 5-2, one of the loses being to a seven time state champion school in Carrollton, only losing by eight points and holding Carrollton to their lowest score of the tournament. They also had two come from behind wins against Niceville and Montgomery. This record was good enough to place them in the Gold (winners) bracket.
The Griffins competed well in this portion of the tournament. They won their first bracket game against Little Rock Christian to push them to the quarterfinals. They came up four points short against Spain Park, AL. They ended the tournament in the top eight out of 32 teams.
The Griffins earned a lot of respect from some of the nation’s best programs. By the end of the tournament there was a lot of people asking, “Now where is Stonewall?”
