Despite oppressive heat, Wednesday’s 7-on-7 team tournament held at New Iberia Senior High as part of the Sugarland Optimists Football Clinic turned out successful even if the high school players involved showed the effects of playing in hot weather.

“We fought the heat well early in the tournament,” said Franklin coach Zeb Simon, whose team finished with a 3-1 record and lost to NISH for third place in the competition. “It was very hot, especially as the 7-on-7 went through the afternoon and in the final game we played against NISH.

“I think that for our first outing in 7-on-7 of the season we preformed very well. We got a chance to evaluate different groups of receivers and defensive backs and we were pretty comfortable with what we saw today.”

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Patterson and Northside went through the tournament pools undefeated and Patterson’s Lumberjacks won the final game against the Vikings.

NISH and Franklin each finished with a loss and played the third place game. Jeanerette and Washington-Marion of Lake Charles each finished with two losses and the Chargin’ Indians beat the Tigers in the fifth place game. Loreauville and NISH’s JV squad finished in fourth place in the tournament with Loreauville winning the seventh-place game.

“It’s kind of hard to say how we did today,” said NISH coach Rick Hutson. “We didn’t look sharp today. But really and truly looking across the whole of the tournament, I only saw one or two schools that really looked sharp at times and that was Patterson and Northside.

“It was brutal conditions out here. We were out here since 2:00 today and I’m glad I can go get under an air-conditioner. I’m worn out and I’m sure our players are too.

“We played with two teams today with our junior varsity squad out here too. We didn’t have many substitutions and we had a lot of players that went every snap and I know that they got worn out with all the games.”