Feb 05, 2012
Oilers finish as consolation finalists at 7-on-7 state tournament
July 13, 2009
COLLEGE STATION — The Pearland Oilers qualified for the 2009 state 7-on-7 tournament for the fourth time since 7-on-7 began 12 years ago. Each team is placed in a four-team pool with the top two teams advancing to the championship round and the bottom two teams advancing to the consolation bracket.
In three previous appearances - Pearland had a perfect record which was 0-12. They lost every game in pool play and lost in the opening game of the consolation round. However - don't be dismayed. For head coach Tony Heath -- the emphasis has been and will always be the regular football season in the fall.
Pearland appeared in the tournament in 2001, 2006, 2008 which produced the 0-12 record. However - during the regular season, when it really counts, the Oilers were 13-1 in 2001 with a trip to the state semifinals. In 2006, Pearland was 12-3 and another trip to the state semifinals. In 2008, Pearland was 12-1 while advancing to the 5A Region III finals -- falling one game short of another trip to the state semifinals.
Those three previous 7-on-7 appearances saw the Oilers combine for a sensational 37-5 football record during the regular season -- which coach Heath will take every time.
The 2009 7-on-7 state tournament produced different results for Pearland this year. Staying true to form -- the Oilers lost the first two games of pool play to Tyler Lee (40-34) and Alamo Heights (27-26).
After the second loss, Myles Kanipes was overheard saying at the start of the third game, "We have to get a win. I don't want to go home without a win."
The Oilers accepted the challenge and pulled out a 40-33 win against Arlington Bowie to break their 14-game losing streak and get their first win at the 7-on-7 state tournament.
Pearland was sent to the consolation round of the tournament and then ripped off two straight victories against Hays Consolidated (33-31) and Cedar Hill (33-26) to land in the consolation semifinals against Houston Lamar. The Oilers dominated the contest for a 39-26 win sending them to the consolation finals against the Stratford Spartans.
Stratford jumped out to a 20-7 lead, but the Oilers rallied as junior-to-be quarterback Trey Anderson threw a touchdown pass to Charles Ortiz to cut the lead to 20-14, but Stratford answered with another score for a 26-14 lead.
Anderson rallied the troops to score with a toss to Dustin Garrison to cut the lead to 26-21 at the half.
First half stars included Kanipes, Garrison, Ortiz, Sam Ukwanchu, Matt Rhodes, and Cameron Ehrlich.
The Oilers had a chance to take the lead on their first possession of the second half, but an interception in the end zone killed the drive.
However, Kendall Ehrlich intercepted a Stratford pass to give the ball back to the Oilers, but Pearland turned the ball over on downs.
Stratford took advantage to score for a 32-21 lead.
With 9:21 left in the game Anderson fired a TD pass to Kanipes to close the gap to 32-27 and then the Spartans went on a 20-point scoring run to close out the game 52-27.
Stony Point won the state championship with a 33-31 win over Cy-Fair.
Pearland finished the 2009 7-on-7 state tournament with a respectable 4-3 mark.
Members of this year's team include: Jeff Phillips, Erik Dixon, Claudius Smithers, Travis Cook, Myles Kanipes, Trey Anderson, Josh Harrison, Charles Higgonbotham, Kendall Ehrlich, Charles Ortiz, Mario Gomez, Desmond King, Cameron Ehrlich, Dustin Garrison, Anthony Nava, Jacob LeFortune, Alex Deason, Matt Rhodes, Sam Ukwanchu, and T.J. Strayhorn.