Sweat dripped from all four of my cheeks. It was difficult to breathe.

My maximum exertion level was a few steps to the left, a few steps to the right and a few steps backwards.

Yours truly was witnessing a 7-on-7 football passing tournament on the playing surface of Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Stone Stadium. The air temperature was in the low 90s Thursday afternoon. There were a few clouds and an occasional breeze, breaking the oppressive heat.

“It feels pretty good out here,” said Co-Lin assistant coach and tournament director Dan Reich, smiling with enthusiasm. “Those clouds help a lot. We even had a breeze this morning.”

Basically, the 7-on-7 tournament is a passing/receiving drill versus a pass defense. Teams take turns on offense and defense. There is no blocking and tackling allowed on the 40-yard field. Players are tagged instead of tackled. Interceptions, receptions and touchdowns are celebrated.

“I don’t see how the kids can stand it,” said a veteran football coach, in reference to the high heat and humidity. “I guess they have youth on their side.”

In a 7-on-7 game, it’s non-stop action, with the head referee counting five seconds out loud from behind the quarterback. “One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi, four Mississippi, five Mississippi.”

If the quarterback fails to pass in that amount of time, it counts as an incompletion and a loss of down. It’s high-octane mayhem at times as players hustle back after each play to get in position for the next down. They are instructed and encouraged by coaches on the sidelines.

Brookhaven head coach Tommy Clopton shared his philosophy on the 7-on-7 drills. There are no helmets or pads used. Shorts and t-shirts serve as uniforms usually matching the school colors. Sweat is prolific.

“The purpose is to give our kids a chance to compete,” explained Clopton. “It means we have a chance to work on our stuff.”

Stuff covers a wide variety of subjects. For the quarterback, Ole Brook junior Fred Trevillion is making the move from wide receiver to taking snaps fulltime. He was pressed into duty for one game last season when quarterback Zach Smith suffered a concussion.

“We run the same offensive and defensive plays that we use during the season,” said Clopton. “It helps you gauge where you stand in some parts of your game but it is a long ways from football. You get to see some kids step up.”

Almost every high school team has a strict, demanding summer workout program. In Ole Brook’s case, the Panthers roll out of bed before sunrise and head for King Field to lift weights, run stadium steps and perform agility drills three days a week under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff.

For sure, 6 a.m. comes early but the air temperature is a lot more comfortable than 9 a.m. The Panthers will work out 4 days a week after July 1st.

“We throw against ourselves twice a week,” Clopton noted. However, Panther versus Panther becomes predictable and almost boring after several weeks. Coaches and players welcome the 7-on-7 opportunity.

There were seven teams involved in Co-Lin’s 7-on-7 competition. They included Brookhaven, Lawrence County, North Pike, Tylertown, South Pike, Vicksburg, Ocean Springs and two teams from Natchez. Ocean Springs, coached by Lincoln County native Ryan Ross, defeated Natchez 27-23 in the title game.

Ocean Springs eliminated Brookhaven by a 27-24 margin earlier in the afternoon.

For sure, there are no long-range ramifications on a team’s success or failure during the 2013 campaign when viewing a 7-on-7 exhibition. But, the competition usually is intense. You won’t see the losing team laughing or smiling.

Clopton said he has been encouraged by his team’s summer workouts. Participation has been high and there are few absentees. The Panthers know what it takes to be successful.

Ocean Springs showed some exceptional speed, quickness and athleticism. Ross, former offensive coordinator at BHS, left his alma mater three years ago. His Greyhounds are in the super-tough Region 4-6A. They made the state playoffs the last two years.

New Lawrence County coach Herbert Davis had his team dressed in dark red shorts and shirts, complete with numbers, for the tournament. Davis is trying to develop a passing attack at a school that has a tradition of running the Wing-T with a stable of talented running backs. His son, freshman Hayden Davis; and senior Will Jackson, are the quarterback candidates in what appears to be a major rebuilding season.

West Lincoln coach Willie Brumfield was the first person to return a Daily Leader Gridiron Questionnaire. He delivered the information in-person, Friday morning.

Brumfield has a large group of returning starters and a veteran quarterback in Jonah King preparing for membership in Class 2A. The Bears will miss 1,000-yard running back Deon Moore who graduated.

West Lincoln will be a Region 6-2A member with Loyd Star, Enterprise-Lincoln, Amite County and newcomers Bassfield and East Marion. For the unknowing reader, powerful Bassfield romped to the Class 2A state championship last season and East Marion was South State runner-up.

Pike County native and Brookhaven Academy graduate Corey Dickerson made an impressive Major League Baseball debut Saturday against the Washington Nationals. He started in right field and helped the Colorado Rockies notch a 7-1 road triumph. In his first MLB at-bat, Dickerson lashed a line drive to left-center field and legged it out for an RBI double, just dodging the throw-in tag at second base.

Dickerson, wearing jersey No. 6, smacked another double his next time at bat and came around to score. He later struck out and flied out to deep center field. He received some rave reviews from the Washington broadcast team on ESPN.

A 2008 BA graduate, Dickerson played for Meridian Community College before the Rockies drafted him. He caught a long fly ball to retire the Nationals in the first inning and adroitly flipped the baseball to some fans in the bleachers.

The Rockies, who had lost five games in a row, elected to wear their purple and black batting practice jerseys for the game. They might wear them again.

 Contact sports editor Tom Goetz by email: tom.goetz@dailyleader.com