PORT ARTHUR — Though the state 7 on 7 tournament kicked off Thursday, the Division I group that Port Arthur Memorial will be competing in doesn’t start play until Friday.



That’s when a group led by quarterback Ricky Fisk will try to bring a championship back from College Station. Memorial kicks things off Friday in Pool I against Tyler Lee at 2 p.m. They’ll play Waco next at  4 p.m. and finish the day against Plano West at 6 p.m.



The top two teams in the pool advance to the championship round played on Saturday. The Division I championship game is set for 4 p.m. Saturday on Kyle Field. The rest of the tournament games will be played on Texas A&M’s Intramural Fields and practice fields.



Since the 7 on 7 group isn’t technically part of the football program, the Memorial coaching staff can’t actually coach the players. Linebacker Dante Lovilette’s father, Eric, will coach the team this weekend, just like he did in the May 19 tournament in Houston that qualified Memorial for state.



For scoring updates all weekend, follow @TXState7on7, the official Twitter feed of the state tournament or check out the website at http://www.txstate7on7.com/Live_Updates.html.



The Titans are completely heathy for the tournament, according to Titans head coach Kenny Harrison. A number of skill players sat out spring practices, but all have been cleared to play, including receiver John Leday and the versatile Darius Lemora.



“I’m very excited to see how they play,” Harrison said. “We were excited when they did so well in the Houston tournament to qualify and we didn’t even have John or Darius then. With all our guys healthy, we’re looking forward to seeing them play together.”



Lemora will be one of a few different running backs also working with this team (along with Devin Cockrell and Patrick Sinegar), but the position will be more of a receiver than the runner it may be during the regular season in Memorial’s typical offense.



However, don’t expect Memorial to run an offense any different from the one they’ll show this fall.



“Some teams will change how they do things so they succeed in 7 on 7,” Harrison said. “We don’t do that. We just run our offense and try to execute the best we can. This kind of thing can only help Ricky and the offense develop their timing. Facing these quality defensive backs, making those throws, it can only help.”



The Titans will also get a chance to show off what could be one of the top secondaries in the area, with Jalen Barnes, Lemora, Devin Cockrell and James Jenkins all playing well since the spring. They’re going to have plenty of practice, since the competition in just pool play should be steep.



Tyler Lee features some very fast offensive players in quarterback Jordan Richardson, running back LaQuintas Wallace and receiver Diondre Allen. Both Richardson and Wallace are returning starters from last year’s squad.



Plano West is led by QB Travis Korry, who rushed for 620 yards and eight TDs last year and threw for another 701 yards and five TDs. He’s also joined by returning wideout Austin Copeland, who caught 19 balls for 200 yards last year.



But, the most interesting player for the Wolves may be sophomore running back Sotonye Jamabo, who has plenty of expectations heaped on his 6-foot-2, 185 pound frame. This tournament may be his first chance to shine on the state stage.



Class 4A Waco brings a group of two-way players to the tourney, with quarterback and safety Adrian Norwood leading the way. Norwood had eight interceptions and brings good speed to the table. One of his targets will be Myron Hills, who had 300 yards receiving last year. They lost a key piece of the offense last year with Lamar signee Darrell Harris.



Waco was a late addition to the tournament, replacing Odessa just before the tournament began.



Other notable teams in the Division I bracket include La Porte, Katy, Lake Travis, Manvel, The Woodlands and defending 7 on 7 state champ DeSoto. Baytown Lee was the last Houston-area team to win a 7 on 7 title, winning in 2005 and 2001. Katy Cinco Ranch also won in 2002, while Houston Lamar reached the Division I finals last season but lost to DeSoto.