By FRANCIS FEDOR
Sumner returned to the win column with its 24-7 road victory over the Hillsborough Terriers on Oct. 10. The Stingrays remain the top of their class in the 7A District 7 standings with two wins and close out the season with two crucial district games, first on the road against Strawberry Crest on Oct. 17 and then finish the regular season schedule on Oct. 24 in the Tank vs Alonso. Both Strawberry Crest and Alonso have one win each with the Chargers having two losses. The Stingrays control their own destiny and posted head-to-head wins against Plant City and Newsome earlier in the season.
Stingray freshman Santana Griffin during a JV game moved up to a backup role on Varsity to fill the void left by the injury to starter Antonio Balaguer.
Francis Fedor Photos
Sumner sophomore QB Makai Frederick and RB Tommy Scott stand together in a game earlier this season. Frederick now steps into the starting QB role for the Stingrays, replacing Antonio Balaguer, who is out for the season.
The Sumner defense set the tone early in the game against the Terriers with Jayden Porter getting to the QB for an early game sack. The offense opened the scoring with Robert Garcia breaking a 25-yard first quarter score. The Rays scored their second TD with an 11-yard connection from backup QB Makai Frederick to Taesean Robinson that was setup by a Stingray defensive fumble recovery. The teams went to halftime without any further scoring.
The Rays added a Josiah Washington 25-yard FG to extend the lead before the Terriers found the end zone for their first points to make the game a little closer. It would be another Frederick to Robinson score, this time a 25-yard connection, to put the game away for head coach George Selvie and his team.
The Stingrays were without starting QB Antonio Balaguer, who is out for the season, but sophomore Frederick stepped up and did the job to get Sumner the win. The defense again played a solid game. Frederick finished the game, going 6 of 14 for 70 yards and a TD. Freshman Santana Griffin saw some time completing 2 of 5 also for 70 yards and a TD. The offense will look to Frederick as the next man up to carry Sumner as it looks to lock up a playoff spot. He inherits a number of stars who will help him as he takes over the starting role, including Robinson and running backs Garcia and Cedrick Johnson, who have had strong seasons and will take on more of the leadership role left by Balaguer.
Sumner senior WR Taesean Robinson, here making a play in a game earlier this season, scored two TDs in the game vs. Hillsborough and will be a key weapon on offense for Makai Frederick as he steps into the starter’s role.
The staff will have the team back on the field installing the game-plan for the upcoming road game against the 5-2 Strawberry Crest Chargers.
The Morgan Mustangs took a trip up I-4 and lost 10-7 to the Strawberry Crest Chargers. The Mustangs close out their season with a home game vs the Newsome Wolves on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m.
For more South Shore action, look for the South Shore summary in this edition.
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