By Tony Adams
Sports Editor

Abilene: a town known as Texas’ gateway to the West.
It was a town that several of the Harker Heights Knights had not been. It was a long road to travel to qualify for the Texas 7-on-7 Division I State Championships.
But the Knights made the best of a tough situation and took care of business, making the ride back home an enjoyable one.
The Knights qualified for the state tournament, becoming the first team in their 7-on-7 program history to earn the berth. They became the second Killeen ISD school to qualify for the state stage, joining the Killeen Kangaroos’ 7-on-7. They qualified in 1998, 2000 and 2007. The Texas State 7-on-7 Division I State Tournament is at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Station is on July 8 and 9.
The Knights and Abilene Cooper drew the bids in the Abilene SQT. Harker Heights joins District 8-6A counterparts Belton and Copperas Cove with berths at the tournament. They most likely will not see each other at the state tournament until bracket play. With the talent at the state level, it is anyone’s guess to when they would play each other, if at all.
With weapons like Robert Gray’s passing and Ja’Quan Tillis, Alex Pons, Ryan Lockhart and CJ Parker catching Gray’s passes for the Knights, it certainly has helped the Knights get to the state stage and challenge for their shot at a state title.