Tuck leads Cummings in romp of Cardinal Gibbons
Tony Tuck ripped the pass completion from the hands of the Cardinal Gibbons receiver and motored 62 yards for a touchdown.
It was just one example of Cummings High School's physical superiority as it sliced, diced and shredded visiting Cardinal Gibbons 46-10 during Senior Night festivities Monday night.
``My coach told me to come up and I just ripped it from the receiver and took off,'' Tuck said of his third-quarter interception.
The victory in the Mid-State 2-A Conference game assures Cummings (6-4 overall, 4-1 conference) a berth in the state playoffs.
Tuck also returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown and caught an 8-yard pass from Omar Stewart for a score. It was the first three-touchdown game of his career, a career that was overshadowed by Dwight Jones Jr. and Antonio Ferguson for three years until Tuck broke out this season.
``(Offensive coordinator Jay Perdue) said someone had to step up and I forced myself to do that,'' Tuck said. ``Don't hold back.''
Perdue was happy Tuck rose to the occasion after biding his time.
``He's waited his time and it's his year,'' Perdue said. ``I told him that he's a leader and he had to lead. He's waited his time and good things are happening for him.''
Tuck's punt return gave Cummings a 16-3 lead with 1:15 left in the first quarter and seemed to spark the lifeless Cavaliers.
``I just felt it. I called it before the game,'' Tuck said of the punt return. ``The blockers blocked and I took it to the crib. It's Senior Night and I felt I needed to get one. I haven't had one all season.''
The Cavaliers' first-quarter performance disappointed Cummings coach Steve Johnson, but he felt better after his team's 24-point second quarter.
``We played a little sloppy in the first quarter and then got it going,'' he said. ``I was upset with the play of our special teams. We have to work on that and play out games.''
The Cavaliers' scoring eruption featured a 4-yard touchdown burst by Chris Richmond and Stewart touchdown passes of 25 yards to Kendrick Sellars and the 8-yarder to Stewart for a 40-3 halftime lead. LaQuan Knox scored from 9 yards out in the first quarter for Cummings.
``It's hard to come into the defending state champion's house and be at ease. We were a little tight to start the game,'' said Cardinal Gibbons coach Mike Sheehan, whose team fell to 2-8 overall and 1-4 in the conference. ``Cummings had a good game plan for us. They are a tough team to prepare for.''
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