Dorman runs away with Music City title

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- The Dorman Cavaliers were considered to be the team to beat heading into Vanderbilt's Music City Classic Passing Tournament and after 14 games, the South Carolina program proved to be unbeatable. The Cavaliers marched through three rounds of pool play on Friday and Saturday morning and ran the table as the No.1 seed in the fourth year of the 7-on-7 tournament.

Led by 2009 Music City Classic MVP Charone Peake, the Cavs averaged over a little over 30 points per contest and were only held under 21 points on one occasion. Peake, who is only a rising junior, caught nearly every pass that was thrown his way during the two-day event and lived up to the hype of being a elite level prospect for the 2011 recruiting period.

However, Peake wasn't alone as fellow Cav receivers Avery Bomar, Tyla Moore and Johnny Foster all proved to be playmakers in Dorman's passing attack as well. The 6-foot-5 Bomar was a strong option on the edge and on deep balls, but the senior was also strong in the middle, converting several first downs during pool play. The 6-foot-2 Moore also made several highlight catches, and the rising junior showed some elusive moves in the open field. The athletic Foster saw time at both quarterback and receiver and was solid at both positions.

The Cavaliers defeated the Springdale Har-Ber Wildcats of Arkansas in the tournament final, 25-15. The Har-Ber program has been one of the best in 7-on-7 events since opening a few years ago and had made the championship game as a No.3 seed.

The final started off with the Wildcats taking a 7-0 lead after a 4-play drive. Har-Ber junior quarterback Ryan Luther connected with All-Tournament receiver Josh McKinney for 20 yards and a first down. Following another first down pass to Kaleb Vaughn, Luther found senior slotback Jordan Nicholson in the back of the end zone for the 10-yard score.

Dorman answered with a six-play drive of their own, though the drive was added by a pass interference call against the Wildcats on a Cavs third down attempt. Johnny Foster then found Tyla Moore on the very next play for a 15-yard score.

Dorman took a 8-7 lead a few plays into Har-Ber's next possession when Luther was ruled to be sacked. Under MCC rules, the quarterbacks were given only three seconds to get rid of the ball. Luther did continue to hook up with McKinney for a pair of first downs, but the drive eventually stalled with three straight incompletions.

Dorman stretched the lead to 15-7 with a touchdown catch by Peake, but the Wildcats would comeback to tie the game on a four-play drive of their own. Luther connected with Nicholson and running back Tre Tyler during the drive before finding McKinney on in the back of the end zone. Har-Ber then converted on a two-point attempt when Luther found a diving Brett Smith in the left corner of the end zone.

With less than a minute to go, the Cavaliers converted back-to-back first downs before taking the lead when Foster found a uncontested Moore in the corner of the end zone. Dorman then sealed the victory with a interception on Har-Ber's ensuing possession.

As a result of winning the championship, the Cavaliers received an official invite to the National Select 7-on-7 tournament in Hoover, Alabama next weekend. The runner up Wildcats will also be at Hoover due to a prior selection.

Dorman becomes the first non-Tennessee team to win the MCC championship since South Carolina's Byrnes High captured the first ever title in 2006. The are the first team to ever post a undefeated mark through pool play and in tournament play. While the in-state programs were shut out of the finals, 2008 Music City Classic champion David Lipscomb and Brentwood Academy did reach the semi-finals.

2009 Music City Classic Tournament Results:

1st Round

(#1) Dorman over (#32) Southwestern "B" team, 52-0.

(#16) Pearl-Cohn over (#17) LaVergne, 11-10.

(#8) Ft.Campbell over (#25) Christan Brothers, 23-8.

(#9) Memphis University over (#24) Oak Ridge, 28-10.

(#5) Franklin over (#28) Stratford, 23-6.

(#12) Brentwood Academy over (#21) MBA "B" team, 25-10.

(#20) Pope John Paul II over (#13) Ravenwood, 21-14.

(#4) DeKalb County over (#29) Southwestern "A" team, 17-8.

(#2) Evansville Central over (#31) Union City, 34-10.

(#18) Lipscomb over (#15) Riverdale, 17-14.

(#10) Greensburg Central Catholic over (#23) Gallatin, 27-20.

(#7) MBA "A" team over (#26) Franklin County, 27-14.

(#11) Hillsboro over (#22) Clarksville, 24-19.

(#6) Independence over (#27) Whitehaven, 17-14.

(#14) Trinity Christian over (#19) Cookeville, 18-12.

(#3) Springdale Har-Ber over (#30) Rock Bridge, 47-8.

2nd Round

(#2) Dorman over (#16) Pearl-Cohn, 15-2.

(#8) Ft. Campbell over (#9) Memphis University, 26-20.

(#12) Brentwood Academy over (#5) Franklin, 27-17.

(#4) DeKalb County over (#20) Pope John Paul II, 13-7.

(#18) Lipscomb over (#2) Evansville Central, 26-14.

(#7) MBA over (#10) Greensburg Central Catholic, 25-7.

(#6) Independence over (#11) Hillsboro, 23-15.

(#3) Springdale Har-Ber over (#14) Trinity Christian, 19-0.

Quarter-finals

(#1) Dorman over (#8) Ft. Campbell, 27-22.

(#12) Brentwood Academy over (#4) DeKalb County, 31-21.

(#18) Lipscomb over (#7) MBA, 17-10.

(#3) Springdale Har-Ber over (#6) Independence, 34-7.

Semi-finals

(#1) Dorman over (#12) Brentwood Academy, 25-15.

(#3) Springdale Har-Ber over (#18) Lipscomb, 36-28.

Final

(#1) Dorman over (#3) Springdale Har-Ber, 25-15.

Note: East St.Louis High of Illinois was originally planned to participate this weekend, but were unable to make the trip to Nashville. Montgomery Bell Academy and Southwestern High of Somerset (Kent.) fielded two teams during the tournament and pool play.

Complete Team Records:

Dorman...........14-0

Springdale Har-Ber...11-2-1

Evansville Central...9-2

DeKalb County......9-3

Franklin..........8-3

Independence.....8-3-1

Fort Campbell....8-4

MBA "A" team......8-4

Brentwood Academy....8-5

Greensburg Central Catholic..7-4

Hillsboro...........7-4

Memphis University School....7-4

David Lipscomb....7-6

Pearl-Cohn.........6-5

Trinity Christian Academy...6-5

Ravenwood........5-5

Riverdale........5-5

Pope John Paul II..5-6

Cookeville.......4-6

LaVergne........4-6

MBA "B" team....4-6

Christian Brothers...3-7

Clarksville......3-7

Franklin County....3-7

Gallatin........3-7

Oak Ridge.......3-7

Whitehaven......3-7

Southwestern "A" team...2-8

Stratford.......2-8

Rock Bridge........1-9

Union City.......1-9

Southwestern "B" team...0-10

Check back later for a Music City Classic notebook on the camp's top performers.