The South Shore Six (SS6) took to the gridirons for week two of the HS football season, and four of the six squads came away victorious on Friday, Aug. 28. Lennard, Riverview and East Bay notched wins, while Sumner, Morgan and Spoto could not find a path to victory.
The Sumner Stingrays, in a much-anticipated matchup, played their home opener against Tampa Bay Tech, and Tech came away with the 35-10 victory in the Tank. The Titans were coming off a road win over Lake Gibson 27-6, and the Rays won at Strawberry Crest in week one. The game saw neither team light the scoreboard in the first half, with both sides having scoring opportunities. Sumner saw maybe their best first-half opportunity on an early drive after a Tech turnover, recovered by Jayden Howard. The Stingrays stalled and opted for a FG attempt that went wide left, but the Titans were flagged giving the Rays a first down. Sumner stalled again and turned the ball over on downs inside the 10-yard line. A penalty on Tech looked to give the Rays new life, but a Stingray engaged in the discussion and was flagged, nullifying a potential first and goal opportunity. The Rays had a FG attempt blocked to end the first half.
Sumner scored first in the second half with a drive that was punctuated by Santana-Cruz Griffin carrying the ball for successive goal line plays, eventually punching it in from the two. Tech scored quickly to tie the game. Sumner answered with a FG from Josiah Washington to take the momentary lead, but the Titans seized back the momentum with three unanswered scores, including a fumble recovery returned for a TD. The Rays looked to have their own fumble recovery for a TD but the play was ruled down prior to the ball’s coming out. Griffen was the leading rusher with 34 yards. QB Makai Frederick finished with 75 yards passing.
Head coach George Selvie and his staff will regroup, look at the footage and have the players ready for another key matchup of top teams this Friday in the Tank.
The Stingrays will now play another strong opponent at home in the Gaither Cowboys, who went 10-5 in 2025, and have started the season with wins over Blake 56-0 and Plant 24-21.
The Lennard Longhorns and head coach KB Belton welcomed the Morgan Mustangs to Ruskin for the very first matchup between the two nearby schools. The Longhorns were too much for the Mustangs and came away with the 41-20 win. Lennard jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead and led 21-6 at the half. Morgan made a run in the third quarter with two TDs, but the Longhorns matched the scores and moved to 2-0 on the early season. The Mustangs are now 1-1 in the early going. Lennard jumped out to a 34-6 lead before the Mustangs D picked off a Balaguer pass and took it into the endzone. Balaguer finished with 221 yards passing with two TDs and a rushing TD and the interception. Chayse Brown led the receivers with 106 yards and a score with Al’quan Smith and Terrence O’Neal-Leather on the receiving end of Balaguer TD passes. Marcus Dixon led the ground attack with 106 yards and a TD, and Aiden Ivory also found the endzone. Special teams got in on the scoring with Robert Gibbons returning a kickoff 90 yards to pay dirt.
Morgan was led by Cole Verzosa, who went 18 for 25 and 117 yards with a TD, with Zamauri Taylor pacing the ground game churning for 75 yards and a TD.
The Longhorns take to the road and play another strong foe in the St. Petersburg Catholic Barons, who went 12-1 in 2025 and defeated Gibbs 41-26 to open their season but lost at Tampa Catholic 48-39 this past week.
The Marlo Hollingshed led Mustangs return to the ranch to take on the Sickles Gryphons, who only won once in 2025. Sickles matched that in a week one win 39-33 over Freedom but fell to Steinbrenner 44-24 this past Friday.
The Riverview Sharks scored a big 27-12 home win over the Parrish Community (PC) Bulls who went 9-2 in 2025. Sharks QB Carter Peternell ran the offense and generated nearly 180 yards of offense between passing and rushing and threw for a TD, connecting with EJ Burrows for a score. Burrows led the receivers with 69 yards. JP Rinaldi and Gavin Washington each had a rushing TD. Rinaldi amassed 69 yards of total offense. The Sharks, under the steady mentorship of head coach Tony Rodriguez, bounced back nicely after the East Bay loss to open the season and look to keep the momentum going on the road.
The Sharks move to 1-1 on the season and take to the road to face the Alonso Ravens, 6-4 in 2025, in the Ravens’ home opener. Alonso won both road games, 45-6 at Middleton and then at Land O’ Lakes 24-7.
The East Bay Indians shut out the Chamberlain Storm 35-0 on the road in Tampa, and all facets of the game are clicking early for the Indians and head coach DeAndra Simmons and his staff. The stout defense has not allowed a point in two games to start the season. The only score the Indians have surrendered was an INT returned for TD. The defense started early with Michael Walker picking off a pass. East Bay found the scoreboard first on a Preston Cooper 1-yard run. The defense stepped up again, ending a Storm drive by forcing a fumble. QB Jeremiah Argo had another strong outing, connecting with WR’s Carse Biggerstaff for a TD, and Cannon Farragut connected with Shawn Daniels for another. Daniels also recovered a fumble on the defensive side of the ball. Aric Person added a rushing TD. Argo finished with 116 yards and carried for another 28, and the TD. Biggerstaff finished as the leading receiver with 74 yards. Person and Cooper combined for nearly 90 yards rushing.
The Indians stay on the road to face the Gibbs Gladiators. Gibbs opened its season with a 41-26 loss vs. St. Petersburg Catholic but rebounded for a shutout win at Osceola 30-0.
The Spoto Spartans lost a close home game against the Robinson Knights 20-12. The Knights were coming off a 1-point loss to Steinbrenner 35-34, and the Knights are looking to rebound from a tough 2025 season where Robinson only won once. The Spartans had opportunities, including a third-quarter chance at the 2-yard line where Robinson forced a fumble and ended the threat. It was a game that was there for the Spartans, but they could not find the key play needed to pull off the home win. QB Jarvis Howell had a big night, throwing for 100 yards and adding 108 yards rushing with a rushing TD. Howell connected with Michael Grider five times for 71 yards and a TD. Robinson WR Desean Adams gave the secondary fits and set a school record with 231 yards and three TDs. Spoto, under the leadership of head coach Keith Chattin, will regroup and take away the positives and game plan for a tough road game.
The Spartans travel to Lake Gibson, which is coming off a 36-0 win over Haines City after dropping its opener to TB Tech.
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