SHOWDOWN SERIES SD7 OPENING WEEKEND: THE FUTURE OF FOOTBALL JUST HIT DIFFERENT

By M. Williams | RepMax Media

Yo, let me tell you something real quick — if you weren’t at the Showdown Series SD7 opening weekend for boys and girls 7-on-7 flag football, you MISSED OUT. Like, straight up, this wasn’t just another youth tournament. This was a whole movie. Big catches, diving deflections, quarterbacks dropping DIMES, and defense that had me jumping out my seat.

The energy? Unmatched. The talent? Next-level. The future of high school football? It was on full display, and I’m here to break it all down for you.

RHAREBREED WINS SD7 HIGH SCHOOL BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP — ANTHONY RANDOLPH NAMED MVP

Let’s get straight to the point — RHAREBREED is your SD7 High School Boys CHAMPION, and they EARNED IT. Yo, when I tell you this squad came to dominate, I mean they left NO DOUBT. Rharebreed put on an absolute clinic all weekend long, and when the dust settled, they were the last team standing with the trophy in their hands.

And leading the charge? ANTHONY RANDOLPH — your tournament MVP. Bro, this kid was COOKING all weekend. Anthony showed up when it mattered most, made plays when his team needed him, and proved why he’s one of the most talented players in Southern California. MVP performance through and through. The way he commanded the field, made clutch catches, and elevated his team in big moments — that’s championship DNA right there.

Congratulations to Rharebreed (@rharebreed7on7) and MVP Anthony Randolph on bringing home the SD7 High School Boys Championship! That’s what I’m talking about! 🏆

“The Professor” Robert Bourne: Building Champions Through Development

Now, here’s what makes Rharebreed’s championship even more impressive — the philosophy and vision behind the program. I got a chance to catch The Spotlight with Rharebreed founder Robert Bourne, and let me tell you, this man gets it.

Coach Bourne, who played in the NFL, isn’t just running a 7-on-7 team — he’s building a spring league for offseason development that prepares young athletes for the high school football season. And when you see his squad win championships like this, you understand WHY his approach works.

Robert Bourne, aka “The Professor,” broke it down for me: “We focus on the learning and development of the player in 7v7 so when you send them back to high school football, they are ready to go!”

That’s REAL, bro. Coach Bourne focuses on one-on-one training — route running, defensive concepts, the fundamentals that separate good players from GREAT players. He’s not just trying to win tournaments (though clearly they do that too). He’s focused on making sure these young athletes are improving and developing skills that will translate when the Friday night lights come on in 2026.

This is what elite coaching looks like. The Professor understands that 7-on-7 isn’t just about the here and now — it’s about preparing the next generation of high school stars. And when you combine that developmental mindset with elite talent like Anthony Randolph, you get CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Shoutout to Coach Robert Bourne and the entire Rharebreed program for not just building a championship team, but for building better football players. That’s the difference right there.

High School Boys Division: The Elite Four Set the Standard

Now let me break down how we got here. The high school boys’ division was LOADED this weekend with four teams that absolutely dominated and showed everybody what elite flag football looks like. Team TOA, Team HUSTLE, PREMIUM, and Rharebreed — these were the squads to watch, and they delivered.

Team TOA came through and proved they’re premium from all divisions and all levels. These dudes weren’t just playing flag football — they were playing championship football. Every route was crisp, every throw was on point, and the way they moved as a unit? Chef’s kiss. Team TOA showed they’re built different, and that’s culture. That’s coaching. That’s what separates good programs from GREAT ones.

Team HUSTLE brought that competitive fire and energy that had the whole tournament talking. This squad wasn’t backing down from anybody, and the way they competed all weekend long showed why they’re one of the most respected teams in the circuit. Team HUSTLE plays with heart, plays with intensity, and when they step on that field, you KNOW it’s about to be a battle.

PREMIUM showed up and showed out in the high school boys’ division, proving they’ve got the talent, the execution, and the mindset to compete with anybody. This team is ELITE — when PREMIUM steps on the field, they bring that championship mentality and the skills to back it up.

And Rharebreed — yo, this squad lives up to their name because they really ARE a rare breed. From the moment they stepped on the field, you could see the hunger. You could feel the intensity. And by the end of the weekend, they proved they were the BEST team in the high school boys’ division. Championship pedigree on full display. When you’ve got Coach Bourne’s developmental philosophy combined with elite talent, this is what you get.

When you see all four of these teams — Team TOA, Team HUSTLE, PREMIUM, and Rharebreed — going at it in the same division, that’s when you know the talent pool in Southern California is absolutely LOADED. But Rharebreed rose above them all and claimed the crown.

Who do you think has what it takes to dethrone the champs at The Run Back? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Giant Skills Girls Team: Physical, Organized, and FLYING Down the Field

Now, let me talk about the girls’ side for a second because this is where things got WILD. Giant Skills — yo, this team right here is something special. They weren’t just out there playing around. They were physical, organized, and running plays like a college offense. Watching them fly down the field was like watching poetry in motion. Every route had purpose. Every block mattered. And when they got rolling, there was NO stopping them.

One game in particular took the cake for me on the girls’ side — Giant Skills was out there showcasing exactly what high-level flag football should look like. This is what I love about youth sports, bro. You see kids at this level already understanding concepts that some high schoolers still struggle with. Giant Skills came to compete, and they left zero doubt that they’re one of the top girls’ teams in Southern California flag football.

Premium Girls Division: Shawnee the Defender Who Dominated the Rush

But yo, if we’re keeping it 100, one player on the girls’ side absolutely STOLE the show, and her name is Shawnee from the Premium Girls division. This girl is a DEFENDER, and let me tell you — she was out there TERRORIZING quarterbacks all weekend long.

Shawnee was different. Like, I’m talking about a player who had that rare combination of tenacity, finesse, skill, and straight-up aggression all bottled into one package. She was rushing the QB with PURPOSE. Every snap, she was in attack mode. Quarterbacks tried to get the ball out quick? Didn’t matter. They tried to roll out and escape? She was right there. They tried to read the defense? Good luck with Shawnee coming at you.

I’ve covered a lot of high school sports, and when you see a young athlete playing defense with that level of intensity and command, you KNOW you’re watching someone special. Shawnee couldn’t be blocked. She couldn’t be stopped. And honestly? It was a straight-up pleasure to watch her dominate the field like that. The way she disrupted the Premium Girls opponents’ offenses all weekend was elite-level stuff, and I’m telling you right now — mark my words — we’re gonna be talking about Shawnee for YEARS.

Keep your eyes on the Premium Girls division and especially on Shawnee. She’s the real deal on the defensive side.

11U Championship: OC Trojans vs. Premier — DOWN TO THE WIRE

Now let’s talk about the future-future. The 11U Championship between OC Trojans and Premier in the boys’ division was ELECTRIC. When I tell you these kids went down to the wire, I mean it was a whole thriller.

These 11-year-olds were packed with talent. Big catches, clutch plays, competitiveness that had the whole crowd locked in. You could feel the tension in the air, and these kids didn’t fold under pressure — they THRIVED in it. The OC Trojans ended up taking home the championship for that bracket, but shoutout to Premier for pushing them all the way.

Here’s the thing that gets me hyped about tournaments like this: you’re watching the future stars of America at such a young age, and they’re already playing at a level that’s honestly insane. The skill development, the football IQ, the heart — it’s all there. Just watching a game like this alone, seeing these future stars compete at such a high level at that young of an age, was simply a pleasure to see.

Who’s your pick for the next big breakout star from the 11U division? Let’s hear it.

5v5 Big Man Competition: Central Valley Bringing the HEAT

Okay, now THIS was a surprise that probably shouldn’t have been a surprise. The 5v5 Big Man Competition brought out the linemen, and let me tell you — a team from Central Valley came down and absolutely DOMINATED.

We all know Southern California is the big recruiting hotspot, and yeah, there’s a reason for that. But Central Valley? They got DOGS out there, bro. These big boys from Central Valley had a few kids in the high school division that were just straight-up dominating. They were moving people off the line, creating gaps, and showing that Central Valley football is REAL. If you’re sleeping on that region, you’re making a mistake.

I know the big recruiting area is Southern California and up north, but Central Valley showed this weekend that they’ve got some serious talent that deserves respect. The high school division players from Central Valley were putting in WORK, and honestly, it was a reminder that talent is EVERYWHERE in California. You can’t just focus on one area and think you’ve seen it all. Central Valley showed up and showed OUT.

The Run Back is Coming: January 24-25 — Can Anyone Dethrone the Champs?

Alright, so here’s what you need to know if you missed this past weekend — you got a SECOND CHANCE. The Showdown Series is running it back (literally, it’s called “The Run Back”) on January 24th and 25th at Carr Intermediate High School (2120 West Edinger Avenue, Santa Ana, California).

This is boys and girls 7-on-7 flag football, 5v5 lineman competition, and divisions ranging from 8U to 18U. Just like what it’s called — The Run Back — people want their get-back this weekend. You KNOW teams are coming for Rharebreed’s crown. Anthony Randolph and the squad proved they’re the best, but now everybody’s got a target on their back.

If you’re a player, you want revenge. If you’re a fan, you want to catch the next wave of talent. And if you’re a scout or recruiter, you NEED to be there.

Rep Max Media covered this tournament heavy and got some incredible shots of the action, and trust me, we’ll be back next weekend to bring you all the highlights, breakout performances, and moments that matter.

Stay tuned for more 7-on-7 news with Rep Max Media. Stay tapped in.

Final Thoughts: Championship Weekend

Look, I’ve been covering high school sports for a minute now, and weekends like this remind me why I love what I do. The talent at the Showdown Series SD7 opening weekend was unreal.

Rharebreed winning the SD7 High School Boys Championship and Anthony Randolph taking home MVP honors was the perfect ending to an incredible weekend. But what makes it even better is knowing that Coach Robert Bourne — “The Professor” — is focused on developing these players for the long run. That’s how you build sustainable success. That’s how you prepare the next generation of high school stars.

From Team TOA, Team HUSTLE, PREMIUM, and Rharebreed dominating the boys’ high school division to Giant Skills putting on a show on the girls’ side to Shawnee terrorizing quarterbacks with her elite pass rush for the Premium Girls to the OC Trojans winning in dramatic fashion to Central Valley’s big men putting in work — this tournament had EVERYTHING.

7-on-7 flag football is where the next generation of stars get their reps, refine their skills, and show what they’re made of. And if this opening weekend was any indication, California high school football is in GREAT hands.

Big congrats again to Rharebreed, Coach Robert Bourne, and Anthony Randolph on the championship. Y’all earned it. Now the question is — who’s coming for that crown next weekend?

Shoutout to all the teams, players, coaches, and organizers who made this weekend possible. Y’all put on a SHOW.

What did you think of the Showdown Series SD7 opening weekend? Rharebreed taking the championship with Coach Bourne’s developmental approach — did you see it coming? Drop your predictions for The Run Back in the comments below and let’s debate!

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