Private schools set for summer event

By L. SCOTT HAINLINE
CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
St. Pius X is back to defend its title at the Texas Private School Coaches Association 7-on-7 State Championship Tournament this week in Houston.
The TPSCA's fourth annual state event is Friday and Saturday with first-day pool play at Kinkaid and St. Thomas High Schools, and second-day bracket action at Kinkaid.
St. Pius X, which defeated Episcopal for the championship last season in Dallas, will have local company among the 24-team field in Episcopal, St. Thomas, St. John's, Kinkaid, Houston Christian, Lutheran North, Pope John Paul XXII and The Woodlands Christian.
Also scheduled to participate are Austin Hyde Park, San Antonio St. Gerard, Tyler Grace, Fort Worth All Saints, Dallas Lutheran, Austin Regents, San Antonio Christian, Frisco Legacy, Huntsville Alpha Omega, Carrollton Prince of Peace, Dallas Bishop Dunne, Addison Trinity, Bullard Brook Hill, Austin St. Stephen's and Grace Community.
Pool play sessions begin at 9 and 2 p.m. Friday at Kinkaid and St. Thomas, and championship and consolation play start at 9 a.m. Saturday at Kinkaid.
This is Lutheran North's first state appearance since the inaugural championship in 2007 in Houston, according to Lions offensive coordinator Patrick Walker.
Lutheran North will be led by senior E.J. Johnson (Cy Ridge transfer) and junior Matthew Matlock at quarterback, and they'll be throwing to seniors Andrew Wood, Damien Sullivan and Pierre Lucas (a true tailback and Cy Falls transfer), and juniors B.J. Williams and Billy Hafford (Atascocita transfer).
Sullivan, Williams and Hafford double in the secondary, and as defensive leaders with sophomore Justin Arroyo and senior Robert McQuarter (Cy Woods transfer), Lutheran North's best linebackers.
Houston Christian's top returning players expected to contribute at state include quarterback Sam Voncannon, and skill players Dale Wallace, Kyle Crawford, Connor Walker and Hayden Sneed.
St. John's downed Austin St. Michael's in the first TPSCA state championship battle in 2007, and Dallas Bishop Lynch defeated Addison Greenhill for the crown in 2008 in Dallas.