Local

Prep talent highlighted at Cam Newton 7-on-7

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The competitive fire ramped up for the second and final day of the Cam Newton 7-on-7 high school football tournament.

Several local teams competed for a $2,500 donation and first-place bragging rights.

Newton made an appearance at the tournament at Providence Day High School Saturday afternoon.

Local teams included Harding, Hough, Sun Valley and Shelby, among others.

The double-elimination tournament crowns a champion leading up to the 7-on-7 championship tournament July 14-15 in Emerson, Georgia.

From there, the 7-on-7 champs from Charlotte, Pratville, Alabama, Atlanta and other wild card teams will represent their city for ultimate bragging rights.

Newton’s dad, Cecil, said that regardless of where teams finish, it's a great showcase of talent.

"I'm humble and grateful that you know we continue to draw a lot of attraction from a lot of local top-shelf schools,” Cecil Newton said. “But this is an opportunity for us to give back and to try to encourage the kids, support the coaches and the programs throughout the city of Charlotte as well as neighboring towns."

Cecil mentioned top-shelf talent that includes numerous Big 22 players to watch.

Sun Valley quarterback Sam Howell is a Big 22 player to watch for the second year in a row.

Sun Valley lost to Harding in the state quarterfinals last year.

Harding is led by Big 22 player to watch Quavaris Crouch, a running back.

Linebacker Dax Hollifield, of Shelby, is another Big 22 player to watch.

Shelby finished fourth in the 7-on-7, but head coach Lance Ware said the opportunity to compete in this tournament is always beneficial before the season starts.

"For us, we're trying to find receivers,” Ware said. “We graduated a lot last year, but (our) quarterback returned and running back, so we're getting a lot of reps in and that's a lot of good work to see where we're at."