Two dominant backs in Timothy Gaynor and Lane Roberts are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The South Sumter Raiders will host the Calvary Christian Warriors at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. South Sumter's defense has only allowed 14.8 points per game this season, so Calvary Christian's offense will have their work cut out for them.
On Friday, South Sumter earned a 16-6 victory over Dunnellon.
The critical scores for South Sumter came from Bubba Boone and Ismael Rodriguez.
South Sumter's defense made their presence known, laying out the QB four times. Kiwanis Cope was particularly dangerous to the passing game, picking up three sacks himself. Boone got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Calvary Christian came tearing into Friday's matchup with three straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 26.3 points), and they left with even more momentum. They strolled past the Crusaders with points to spare, taking the game 43-26.
Calvary Christian's win came from a few key players South Sumter will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Oni Abasial, who threw for 146 yards and four touchdowns on only 12 passes, and also rushed for 84 yards on only 11 carries. Those 84 rushing yards gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Jack Wang, who rushed for 129 yards and one TD on only 12 carries.
Wins are hard to come by when you can't run the rock, something Calvary Christian proved: they limited Tampa Catholic to a paltry 0.7 yards per carry. The team can thank Tripp Foote for the heroic effort on defense: he. The dominant display was nothing new: Calvary Christian has now limited their opponent to fewer and fewer yards per carry in five consecutive contests.
South Sumter's win bumped their record up to 6-3. As for Calvary Christian, their victory bumped their record up to an identical 6-3.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. South Sumter has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 201.3 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Calvary Christian struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 220.3 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.