Written by Danny Scott
Summerville was defeated by Linden 40-35 Friday night in Tuolumne.
With a buzz throughout the stadium, Summerville hosted Linden in a playoff-like season finale. Summerville kicked off to start their Senior Night, and despite a strong opening Lions drive, showing off the running abilities of Issac Ruvalcaba and the receiving abilities of Antoine Moore, Linden stalled out on a 4th & 1 near the red zone, turning the ball over to the Bears. Summerville’s opening drive would end after a trick play gone awry was intercepted by the Lions. However, that drive would show Summerville’s game plan: hard-nosed runs between the tackles and plays designed to cause chaos for the Lions’ defense. The ensuing Linden drive brought us into the second quarter and broke the ice, scoring a touchdown with about 7 minutes left before halftime. The Bears would then waste most of the remaining time left in the second quarter, answering with the first of three Evan Roberson touchdowns with 2:14 left to play before halftime to tie the game at 7 all.
The final two minutes of the first half would foreshadow what would come later on. Linden started off scoring a long touchdown as quarterback Devin Hunger connected with Moore with 1:08 left. Summerville would then block the Lions’ point-after attempt, bringing the score to 13-7. Summerville responded with a two-play drive touchdown reception by Aiden Ripley from Cort Leslie with 47 seconds remaining, giving them the lead 14-13. Linden went 70 yards with less than a minute left, scoring on the final play of the half from 31 yards out on a Ruvalcaba draw play for his second rushing touchdown of the first half. Linden went for a 2-point try and converted to end the first half, scoring up 21-14.
The 3rd quarter opened with a Linden onside kick, but Summerville recovered and started with the ball at midfield. Summerville tied the score at 21 at the 8:09 mark of the 3rd quarter after Cort Leslie found JT Oliva on a play-action pass. Linden answered quickly when Hunger found Gage Wicke for a touchdown one minute later, giving them the lead back 28-21. Summerville ran out the rest of the 3rd quarter but would score on the first play of the 4th quarter with Roberson’s second touchdown run to tie the game at 28. Linden put together another quick drive as Hunger connected with Moore for his second touchdown to regain the lead with 8:04 left. However, yet again, the Bears would block the Lions’ point-after attempt but still lead 34-28. The Bears’ next drive gave them the lead just inside of 4 minutes, 35-34, after Roberson finished his senior night with his 3rd touchdown run. Linden scored for the final time when Moore received his 3rd touchdown of the night from Hunger to regain the lead, 40-35. Linden would go for another 2-point try; however, this time they did not convert, giving the Bears the ball back with two timeouts.
Summerville received the kickoff with less than a minute remaining from their own 30-yard line. The Bears, with a little assist from Linden, penalties, and a huge trick play, left Aiden Ripley wide open and in Lion territory. Summerville would find themselves with 3.6 seconds to play, with the ball in 1st and goal from the 9-yard line. Leslie faked the handoff, right-rolled left looking for an open target; with no one open, he tucked and ran with multiple Lions defenders closing in. Leslie was stopped and forced out of bounds near the end zone.
Summerville graduates 13 seniors: Kadyem Guzman, Malakai Fromm, Aiden Ripley, Trevor Gault, Robert Nikiforuk, Ashton Hardin, Connor Nixon, Isisah Eckles, Evan Roberson, Braydon Bustamonte, JJ Stone, Hunter Crabtree, and James Ford.
The Cheer squad says good-bye to 7 graduating seniors—Liv Pief, Madison Kaiser, Alexis Stearns, Adalyn Questo, Cherish Questo, Paz Silvers, and Elizabeth Londono.
JJ Stone won Black Oak Casino Resort Player of the Game for his job leading the way for Summerville’s rushing attack and work on the defensive line. Will Hardman delivered the Foust Heating and Air Hot Hit with a second-quarter tackle.
Summerville will not reach the playoffs for the first time in 5 years. The Bears could potentially play one final bowl game at Thorsted Field or at a nearby opponent’s school next Friday, depending on the results of a Sac-Joaquin Section decision Sunday. Otherwise, Summerville finishes their season 3-6, missing out on a 10th game after an opponent backed out of a game without enough time to schedule a replacement.
