RAYMONDVILLE – With summer now in full swing, Valley football players are working on getting better for next school year.

“A lot of us meet at the weight room,” said Raymondville senior running back Marcus Capetillo. “Trying to get stronger for the season. Footwork, meeting together for speed. Trying to get bigger and faster for the season.”

7-on-7 is one of the tools the Bearkats are using to power up their skills. As a bonus, they’re going to the state 7-on-7 tournament for the first time.

“Very excited, very relieved,” said Capetillo. “We’ve been trying the past three years some of us and we finally got to do it. We put our mind to it and we finally got it.”

The Bearkats narrowly beat Rio Hondo 20-19 Saturday to clinch a state trip.

“We just wanted to do what we do right,” said Raymondville wide receiver Zaraivion Armendarez. “That’s short routes, things like that. Just being able to move the ball.”

For younger players like Armendarez, 7-on-7 is a way to make the jump from JV to varsity football a little easier.

“Game speed is real fast,” said Armendarez. “Everything is fast paced. Working on my routes, back pedaling for cornerback. Just things like that.”

Along with Raymondville, other Valley state qualifiers include Mercedes, Rowe, and Edcouch-Elsa.

The state tourney opens June 28 in College Station.