Riverview, Fla. -- A missed opportunity turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Alonzo Ashwood.
“What happened was I put in an application to coach at another school and that school went in another direction and that very day they told me they were going in another direction, that’s when Sumner called me for an interview,” said Ashwood. “Sometimes it’s written that way and I’m glad it happened that way.”
Ashwood is taking on a tough task as the head coach of a brand new football program with no seniors on the roster. In fact, before last week, none of his players had ever started a varsity game.
“It’s a challenge man because you’re building a program, you’re not following anybody. You’re building everything the way you want to do it.
it’s never easy building a football program from the ground up. For some schools, it can take them years before they experience any sort of success on the field. But for Sumner, it took them just one game. The Stingrays won their first very game in school last Friday, a dominant 21-0 win over Spoto. For head coach Alonzo Ashwood, he hopes it’s the first of many wins this season.
“Oh man, you wouldn’t believe, it’s been so satisfying. The ones I’m most excited for are the players. But we as coaches, we know we still got to prepare our guys for the next game.”
They say a coach is only as good as players. Luckily for Ashwood, he has some great ones in sophomore Keoni Denny and junior Jeremiah Exceus. Denny was named the team’s offensive player of the game after rushing for 62 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries.
Exceus meanwhile led the Stingrays defense last Friday with an interception and he scored the first points in Sumner history after taking a fumble back 52 yards for a touchdown.
“So when I first picked it up it was like surreal to me that I had the ball in my hands and then the first thought I had was just touchdown,” said Exceus.
On top of writing his name in the Sumner football record book, Exceus has another reward coming his way courtesy of his head coach.
“I told them whoever scores the first touchdown in the history of Sumner High School, I got something for you. He couldn’t stop, he came right from the sideline and was like, I want my gift.”
The gift has yet to be determined but last Friday was a night the Sumner football team will never forget. But after having a small taste of success, the stingrays are hungry for more.
“We got the big schools like Armwood, Plant city, Plant so it’s like yeah a new school doesn’t have anybody but we’re here making something special,” said Exceus.