Is Sumner on the verge of being a dominant program?

[Longtime Observer]

Looks like their first season was the 2020 plague year, where they went 7-1. On the field, they've had only winning seasons each year. (The 2022 season had several forfeit losses for games they won on the field.)  Last year was a strong year, at 11-2. They posted pretty huge numbers and margins of victory. The lone regular season loss was without their starting QB, and they avenged it in the playoffs. They were knocked out by Plant in what appears to have been a tight game. 

They just received a QB transfer, in Lake Gibson's starting Qb, who is a rising junior and pretty good prospect.

It is very unusual for a brand new program to win most all of its games right away. Something must be going on there. Anyone have further insight?

[nolebull813]

No

[Longtime Observer]

42 minutes ago, nolebull813 said:

No

K

[Nulli Secundus]

2 hours ago, Longtime Observer said:

Looks like their first season was the 2020 plague year, where they went 7-1. On the field, they've had only winning seasons each year. (The 2022 season had several forfeit losses for games they won on the field.)  Last year was a strong year, at 11-2. They posted pretty huge numbers and margins of victory. The lone regular season loss was without their starting QB, and they avenged it in the playoffs. They were knocked out by Plant in what appears to have been a tight game. 

They just received a QB transfer, in Lake Gibson's starting Qb, who is a rising junior and pretty good prospect.

It is very unusual for a brand new program to win most all of its games right away. Something must be going on there. Anyone have further insight?

Someone left LG and didn't go to Lakeland!?  I'm shocked! 

[nolebull813]

6 hours ago, Longtime Observer said:

K

Just kidding. If they are able to attract talent the same way Plant and Armwood did many moons ago then yeah they could emerge as a true title contender. They do need to beef up their schedule or you won’t know much about them till the playoffs. 

[Perspective]

On 1/31/2024 at 11:42 PM, Nulli Secundus said:

Someone left LG and didn't go to Lakeland!?  I'm shocked! 

So, hear me out on this.   A QB left Polk County to attend a school in the Tampa Bay/Hillsborough County area as a junior.   That means Venice can go after him next year.  

[nolebull813]

4 hours ago, Perspective said:

So, hear me out on this.   A QB left Polk County to attend a school in the Tampa Bay/Hillsborough County area as a junior.   That means Venice can go after him next year.  

#ChessNotCheckers

[DarterBlue2]

6 hours ago, Perspective said:

So, hear me out on this.   A QB left Polk County to attend a school in the Tampa Bay/Hillsborough County area as a junior.   That means Venice can go after him next year.  

He's auditioning at Sumner for his real dream to be on the Venice team!

[Longtime Observer]

7 hours ago, Perspective said:

So, hear me out on this.   A QB left Polk County to attend a school in the Tampa Bay/Hillsborough County area as a junior.   That means Venice can go after him next year.  

Technically, I believe he must first be Tampa Gaither's starting QB before Peacock comes calling.

[Longtime Observer]

At the time I made this post, I had no idea that Lakeland would end up playing at Sumner this season. But, they are. They may or may not succeed, but it appears clear Sumner does aim to be the next elite program in the state. They've had a highly unusual amount of success for a program that opened four years ago. And, they appear to have the money to compete for top players in the (utterly insane) NIL era.

[SportsFan]

14 hours ago, Longtime Observer said:

At the time I made this post, I had no idea that Lakeland would end up playing at Sumner this season. But, they are. They may or may not succeed, but it appears clear Sumner does aim to be the next elite program in the state. They've had a highly unusual amount of success for a program that opened four years ago. And, they appear to have the money to compete for top players in the (utterly insane) NIL era.

Their rise seems to be mimicking a rise of a St John's county team who became competitive very quickly

Ironically they play them week 1 this year and that team is Bartram Trail 

[Longtime Observer]

10 hours ago, SportsFan said:

Their rise seems to be mimicking a rise of a St John's county team who became competitive very quickly

Ironically they play them week 1 this year and that team is Bartram Trail 

In an era of school choice, the newer, more impressive schools are going to attract a lot of families.

[nolebull813]

On 3/8/2024 at 10:36 AM, SportsFan said:

Their rise seems to be mimicking a rise of a St John's county team who became competitive very quickly

Ironically they play them week 1 this year and that team is Bartram Trail 

Bartram Trail has been around since 2000. What year did they become competitive? 

[SportsFan]

4 hours ago, nolebull813 said:

Bartram Trail has been around since 2000. What year did they become competitive? 

Depends what you view as competitive 

If you define competitive as competing for a state title then probably 2011 ish

But they were getting winning seasons very early into their program being in existence like 05 when they won 8 games 

The problem they had for years were they just couldn't beat the more established St Augustine which kept them from winning district titles 

[SportsFan]

4 hours ago, nolebull813 said:

Bartram Trail has been around since 2000. What year did they become competitive? 

Though as a whole Bartram Trail has been one of the most consistent and successful teams in North Florida in the past 2 decades 

[Perspective]

As reported by Josh on this site, Sumner's head football coach, Alonzo Ashwood, was dismissed. 

No reason for the dismissal was given, but it certainly wouldn't have been based on the team's on-the-field performance.   I've got a hunch the coach crossed one of those pesky rule lines, perhaps one too many times, and left the principal with little choice.   Again, just speculation on my part.   It'll be interesting to see what repercussions this has for the Stingrays.  

Here's a link to Josh's article:

http://floridahsfootball.com/2024/05/20/alonzo-ashwood-dismissed-at-sumner-after-four-seasons-per-report/

[Longtime Observer]

12 hours ago, Perspective said:

As reported by Josh on this site, Sumner's head football coach, Alonzo Ashwood, was dismissed. 

No reason for the dismissal was given, but it certainly wouldn't have been based on the team's on-the-field performance.   I've got a hunch the coach crossed one of those pesky rule lines, perhaps one too many times, and left the principal with little choice.   Again, just speculation on my part.   It'll be interesting to see what repercussions this has for the Stingrays.  

Here's a link to Josh's article:

http://floridahsfootball.com/2024/05/20/alonzo-ashwood-dismissed-at-sumner-after-four-seasons-per-report/

This is probably going to impact several different schools. Sumner will probably lose several key players to transfer. This means some schools are going to be getting unforeseen boosts as well. You'd assume that the schools in that immediate area might benefit. But, in this day and age, some players could end up far away. Tampa Robinson lost their head coach to USC, and their top recruit transferred...to Chaminade in Broward County.

[OHS_Kboys]

On 3/9/2024 at 3:21 PM, SportsFan said:

Depends what you view as competitive 

If you define competitive as competing for a state title then probably 2011 ish

But they were getting winning seasons very early into their program being in existence like 05 when they won 8 games 

The problem they had for years were they just couldn't beat the more established St Augustine which kept them from winning district titles 

Osceola beat Bartram Trail in the State Semifinals in 2007. They had a pretty good team, QB signed with Clemson I believe but ended up playing baseball. Kyle Parker

[Longtime Observer]

In the last day or so, three major recruits from Sumner's team announced they are transferring to Armwood. Armwood might have been the favorites to win 6A BEFORE the transfers. Now, the Hawks figure to contend to be among the top eight or so teams in the state regardless of classification. 

[nolebull813]

On 5/30/2024 at 9:38 PM, Longtime Observer said:

In the last day or so, three major recruits from Sumner's team announced they are transferring to Armwood. Armwood might have been the favorites to win 6A BEFORE the transfers. Now, the Hawks figure to contend to be among the top eight or so teams in the state regardless of classification. 

So order has been restored 

[nolebull813]

On 1/31/2024 at 9:53 PM, nolebull813 said:

No

Bump for accuracy 

[Longtime Observer]

2 hours ago, nolebull813 said:

Bump for accuracy 

You were worried I was going to be on to something! 

[Perspective]

On 5/30/2024 at 9:38 PM, Longtime Observer said:

In the last day or so, three major recruits from Sumner's team announced they are transferring to Armwood. Armwood might have been the favorites to win 6A BEFORE the transfers. Now, the Hawks figure to contend to be among the top eight or so teams in the state regardless of classification. 

Which players?

[Longtime Observer]

On 6/6/2024 at 7:52 AM, Perspective said:

Which players?

WR Tyler Williams, an OLB and I'm drawing a blank on the other. But, there's more to come. Armwood has a really strong team now.

[Perspective]

14 hours ago, Longtime Observer said:

WR Tyler Williams, an OLB and I'm drawing a blank on the other. But, there's more to come. Armwood has a really strong team now.

Funny (in the ironic sense):  now that Plant is showing signs of returning to its glory years, it ends up in the same district as Armwood under the new district classifications.   That should make things interesting.