By Rob Howe
MidAmerican 7v7 Football
CEDAR FALLS - When they play “Getting Jiggy with It” on the PA, you know it’s on. The Back 2
Ballin High 7-on-7 tournament proves that notion true on an annual basis.
The event’s 2026 edition took place this past weekend here in the warmth of the UNI-Dome as
crisp spring temperatures prevailed in Cedar Falls. Champions were crowned in four divisions.
Competition was fierce.
Rip City Legends took home the 18U Gold Bracket title with a 20-7 victory against Linn-Mar
Lions 18U in the championship game. Iowa Insanity 18U claimed the Silver Bracket with a 39-35
triumph against All We Got Black.
Sanford Sports 15U Black won the Gold Bracket championship. It took down its brother team,
Sanford Sports Red, 28-21, for the crown.
The first-ever Girls High School Flag Football champion was contested. Minnesota Grind Girls
prevailed with a 23-14 win against Jr. Stockmen Elite Red in the final. It was an unbeaten run to
the title.
The weekend was filled with close games and thrilling finishes in a sport where you have a
chance to win even if you’re down a score as long as there’s time on the clock.
We saw that at the end of the 18U Gold Bracket quarterfinal game between Rip City Legends
and Level Up Intergalactic. A touchdown pass from Cannon Davis to Braden Bickford as time
expired gave the eventual champs the 42-37 victory.
As usually happens at these events, we witnessed our fair share of good storylines beyond the
final scores. That’s run it back:
FITTING TRIBUTE
Rip City Legends 18U was playing for more than the championship this weekend. That’s why
winning it seemed like destiny.
On the back of their jerseys, players paid tribute to former team member, Parker Sutherland,
who tragically passed on Feb. 14. He’d just competed with the squad at this event last year
before playing on this field as a Northern Iowa freshman tight end this past season.
Other signs of Sutherland could be seen around the Dome during the weekend. Athletes had his
No. 88 written on their cleats. Others wore the memorial T-Shirt while playing.
HAWKEYE IN THE HOUSE
Connections to the in-state college programs are inevitable with football being played within the
borders. Much of the exposure comes in the form of the coaches’ kids competing. Other times,
former players are coaching the 7-on-7 game.
The latter example popped up this weekend with former Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley calling
plays for Minnesota Air Raid. The Wisconsin native, who played with the Minnesota Vikings,
served as the Hawkeyes’ starting signal caller from 2017-19.
Stanley’s 8,302 passing yards and 68 touchdown throws both ranked second all-time at the
school behind Heisman Trophy runner-up Chuck Long. Stanley is deciding to give back to
the game that gave him a lot.
SCHOOL BALL
Organizations fielding 7-on-7 teams come in different forms. Club teams are the most
common among them.
While those programs benefit from uniting kids from different communities, groups from
the same high school are rewarded in the fall when they come together in the spring.
Chemistry and camaraderie are developed.
We watched that unfold this weekend with Linn-Mar advancing to the 18U Gold
Championship game. The Lions bested clubs that had been in the game a lot longer than
them.
Other club sports seasons have experienced an increase in school teams joining the
competition during their off-seasons. It makes a lot of sense in 7-on-7 circles, too.
BACKFLIPS
Stodgy Traditionalists have been known to frown upon 7-on-7, with its touchdown
celebrations and smack talk. That’s done nothing to stop those practices and, likely, never
will.
The backflip has become a popular and more common form of celebration. Spinning the
pigskin is always in vogue.
The preference should be team-oriented routines. Here’s a call for creative choreography,
y’all. Make the cellies memorable.