Three weeks later, LC begins first six-man postseason

A lot can happen in three weeks.

That's how long it's been since the Leverett's Chapel High School six-man football program took the field for a game, believe it or not. The Lions' open date was Nov. 7, the final weekend of the regular season, and they achieved a first-round playoff bye last week.

The Lions (7-2) will travel to Rio Vista, a little more than two hours away, to take on Star, an unbeaten program.

The game's site wasn't officially set until Monday, LC head coach and athletic director Matt Everett said.

"We had a lot of places available to us," Everett said. "Their concern was seating. They're planning on bringing quite a few people, apparently. We will be the home team."

The two-hour road trip is just a hop, skip and a jump for the Lions, compared to some of the road trips they make that are four hours-plus.

Everett said the opposition this week will give Leverett's Chapel quite a test.

"They're 9-0," Everett said. "They're pretty basic. They run out of a diamond spread and an I-formation (on offense). They have a running back named Orlando Bell — he can really go. He's the key to their offense."

The long layoff, Everett said, is not as much of a concern as people might believe.

"I did kind of like it in a way," the coach explained. "It was good for us, because we were kind of banged up. The timing might be off with the offense — that's what I'm concerned about. You can't get the intensity in a practice like you do in a game. I'd like for us to come out of the gate quick, keep it close and not get too far behind."

The Lions haven't been behind much this season, their first ever playing a district schedule in six-man play since resuming a football program four years ago. LC's only district loss was a double-overtime loss at Walnut Springs, and the Lions have won two games since then.

One reason why is because everybody has taken their play to another level. Six-man football has many more points scored than regular football, and the Lions have definitely been good at it.

Quarterback Hunter Hammontree has completed 67 of 124 passes for 1,250 yards, 29 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

Daniel Still has also played quite a bit of quarterback. Still has completed 34 of 56 passes for 714 yards, 13 touchdowns and three picks. And Trevor Dean, primarily a receiver, also has a few passes this year. He's 10 of 20 for 171 yards, two scores and an interception.

Hammontree leads the team in rushing, with 904 yards and 16 scores on 85 carries. Dean has 247 yards and eight touchdowns on 34 carries.

Tony Chavez has 105 yards and two scores on 12 carries; Taylor Jordan has 57 yards and a touchdown on five carries; and Kyle Youngblood has a touchdown and 41 yards on two carries.

Dean is far and away the team's leading receiver. He's made some big catches, even in the defeat at Walnut Springs. He's caught 47 passes on the season for 1,110 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Youngblood has 33 catches for 476 yards and 12 scores; Hammontree has 11 catches for 162 yards and three touchdowns; Still has 182 yards and a touchdown on 10 receptions; and Chavez had five catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns. A host of other players have catches, as well.

The LC-Star winner will play the winner of Walnut Springs and Sidney next weekend in the regional round.