Maroa-Forsyth football hosts 7-on-7 tournament

MAROA, Ill. (WAND) - Maroa-Forsyth football welcomed 7 other programs to Walter Boyd Field on Saturday for an annual 7-on-7 competition.

The Trojans welcomed Clinton, Clifton Central, Greenville, Eureka, Pontiac, Peoria Notre Dame, and Civic Memorial, to compete in a skill player tournament, offering a glimpse into the play schemes of both offense and defense for each team.

"It really just comes down to all of us working hard together," said Maroa-Forsyth senior QB Aiden Williams. "We just finished up all our summer event stuff. Like, the other day we just had our "Camp Quest" stuff. We get the whole team together, have a competition, and have fun. But then to just come back together next day and go from having a fun day competing with each other to competing with other teams, that's really important for us."

Throughout the day, teams rotated on the turf and matched up against new opponents. The drills enable players to get reps in game-like situations and become more familiar with the playbook and responsibilities, while coaches can evaluate their roster and how plays work in various situations.

"These really help us grow and show us how we need to move with different offenses," said Clinton senior tight end Lucas Baker. "It's a much different size-difference and just learning, really, everything."

7-on-7 drills pit teams head-to-head without the use of linemen. The Maroa-Forsyth tournament uses a scoring system to reward plays other than just touchdowns. Touchdowns are worth 6-points, followed by a 2-point conversion play. Defenses can also earn 3-points by forcing turnovers.

Clifton Central won this year's tournament.