The Warriors 7-on-7 football team played host to 900 players on june 22 at the Socorro Rodeo and Sports Complex.
Russell Huffman | El Defensor Chieftain
photos

The expected number of 700 athletes swelled to 900 on June 22 as Socorro hosted a very successful 7-on-7 football tournament, and the Warriors won the linemen’s challenge.

“Isn’t it great? We had some teams bring more people with them than we expected,” Ocampo said. “I love this because nobody here is concerned about winning 7-on-7 games. Everybody’s running their stuff. That’s how this is designed. So, we’re running our stuff. It doesn’t matter if it’s first and 10 or short yardage; we’ll run our offense.”

Ocampo is turning to a new chapter in his coaching career with many replacements needed to fill the voids created by graduation.

The biggest shifts for the Warriors will be moving from the 3-4 defense to a 4-3 look, and offensively, there may be a lot more passing. Socorro went from having a stable of running backs to looking for a clearcut leader this season.

Socorro quarterback Isiah Ocampo looks like he has been hitting the weight room as he flexes his guns Thursday.

The Warriors will need a ground pounder to help set up what promises to be a prolific offensive air attack which at times looks like a mixture of the West-Coast offense combined with some plays straight out of the old-style Super Tecmo Bowl on Nintendo.

Isaiah Ocampo and Kenyon Scarborough are the top two contenders to be the Warriors’ starting field general next season. Starting wide receiver, Alex Amaro has also been told to get snaps under center has also been seen under center. After snagging 36 percent of last year’s receptions, he will probably only see time in an emergency or when Ocampo pulls out a trick or two.

The 7-on-7 tournaments during the summer are something Amaro enjoys.

“This is just a good friendly competition and a good atmosphere to be in,” Alex Amaro said. “My goal obviously is to win the state championship. It’s my last year, so it’s about having a good time with all my friends. We’ve got a great group of guys. So, my role as a senior is to keep those younger guys together and ensure we’re all one big family now. Keeping everyone happy and together that’s my biggest goal for us.”

Amaro proves his point about “family” after Socorro’s team photo when he hears a Cibola player mention that no one shows up to take their teams’ photos. The senior quickly regroups the Warrior players, and together, the two teams take a “team” photo.

Scarborough’s name in the mix at quarterback isn’t a “light-a-fire-under-my-son moment” for Ocampo, who has already stated he feels Socorro can win with either quarterback with some “tweaking” of players to different spots. The only problem being is Scarborough is expected to be the team’s defensive leader as the Warrior’s only returning starting linebacker.

Scarborough’s focus is on taking it one step at a time as a team.

“It’s about winning a sixth straight district championship and getting into the playoffs,” Scarborough said.

Winning five-straight district titles adds a little pressure for the Warriors, who have had a target on their backs for several seasons now. A win against Socorro is a bragging point these days for teams.

While Isaiah Ocampo acknowledges some added pressure with Socorro having won so many titles in a row, he’s ready to take on starting role at quarterback after starting at wide receiver last season. He may face the greatest pressures when his dad hits him with a pop quiz about his check-downs over breakfast.

“Our goal as a team is to win a ring. There’s always a bit of pressure, but we worry about what we can control,” Ocampo said.

The ability to control game situations and get numerous repetitions are the biggest highlight of 7-on-7 for assistant coach Charles Zimmerly.

“The number of reps you can get in one day like this is tremendous for the development of your quarterback. They probably throw 300 passes. That’s a lot of passing, and they are quality throws. You could drill for days at home in practice and not have that many quality throws for your quarterbacks,” Zimmerly said.

Russell Huffman | Assistant Editor