N. Gwinnett to host national high school football tournament

There is no national championship in high school football, but 32 teams will vie for the National Select High School Football 7-on-7 Championship late next month at Hoover (Ala.) High.

Qualifying will be held at 20 regional sites, including North Gwinnett. Sixteen teams will compete June 11-12 at North Gwinnett in Suwanee, the top two finishers advancing to Hoover.

The field includes North Gwinnett, Grayson, Etowah, Mainland (Fla.), Spartanburg (S.C.) and Byrnes (S.C.), which is ranked No. 2 in MaxPreps’ 2009 poll.

No running plays are allowed in 7-on-7 games. For all the rules and the schedule, go to ng7on7.com.

Other qualifying tournaments in the area will be held at Eagle’s Landing on July 10 and Lassister on July 17.

The tournaments are another sign that high school football is just around the corner.

The Corky Kell Classic, the traditional season-opening event, will be held Saturday, Aug. 22 in the Georgia Dome. These are the matchups:

Starr’s Mill vs. Etowah, 11:45 a.m.

Brookwood vs. McEachern, 2:30 p.m.

Grayson vs. defending champion Camden County, 5:30 p.m.

Norcross vs. Walton, 8:30 p.m.