Heath Evans Foundation 7-on-7 Championship a huge success

Saints News

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - The fourth annual Heath Evans Foundation 7-on-7 Championship was a huge success, on and off the field.

The champion wasn't crowned until the final play, when a leaping Jayvon Wrentz caught a Hail Mary TD pass from Jeremiah Hay as time ran out to lift Miami Booker T. Washington over Boyd Anderson 33-28 Saturday at The King's Academy.

Sixteen teams, including two state champions (Class 4A Tampa Plant and Class 1B Jupiter Christian), one finalist (Class 2A Miami Gulliver Prep) and two semifinalists (Class 6A Miramar and Class 4A Dwyer), competed in the invitation-only event.

Evans, who graduated from The King's Academy and went to Auburn, was joined on the sidelines throughout the day by fellow NFL players, including Randy Moss, Matt Cassel, Wes Welker, Kevin Faulk, Jabar Gaffney and Abram Elam.

The event featured more than 50 major college prospects and impressed the NFL players.

"The players were as good as you will find anywhere," said Evans, who signed a two-year deal with the New Orleans Saints in the off-season. "The event keeps evolving and improving with outstanding athletes and teams from around the state. I wish there was an event like this when I went to high school."

One of the event's highlights was a trio of "Beat the Pro" Challenges, when two high school players and two spectators battled an NFL player.

T.J. Glover of Tampa Plant showed a great finishing burst, just beating Evans in the 40-yard dash while Leron Thomas of Glades Central and Phillip Ely of Tampa Plant each outscored Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel in the passing accuracy challenge. Greg Dent of Glades Central caught and held onto four punts to beat Matt Elam of Dwyer (three) and New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker (two) in the punt catching competition.

"It's something new we added this year and I think it was a big hit with everyone," said Evans.

At lunchtime, Evans and Cassel spoke to the 400-plus players about integrity, character, making the right choices and perseverance, not only in football but in life.

Joining Booker T. Washington and Boyd Anderson were Tampa Plant, Miramar, Daytona Mainland, Daytona Seabreeze, Miami Gulliver Prep, Glades Central, Jupiter Christian, Dwyer, Park Vista, Ely, Olympic Heights, Glades Day, Cardinal Newman and The King's Academy.

Proceeds from this tournament will benefit the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Heath Evans Foundation, which is dedicated to fostering hope and healing in the lives of children and families affected by sexual abuse. It is committed to breaking the cycle of abuse through healing the psychological, physical, and spiritual wounds inflicted on innocent children; to bring hope and healing to the young victims of sexual abuse.

Major sponsors include Hulett Environmental Services, Chick-fil-A and Cheney Brothers.

For more information on the Heath Evans Foundation, please visit the website at www.heathevans.org.

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