Summit steps it up a notch

Year three was a big one for Summit High School. The SkyHawks, after going 2-18 their first two years with teams that were lacking seniors, erupted during their first year with seniors, going 8-3 and making the playoffs for the first time in their young history.

As a result of that, the SkyHawks have decided to ramp up the nonleague schedule a bit. While Fontana and Sultana are repeats from last year’s nonleague schedule, Summit is adding Etiwanda, Redlands and Silverado in place of Pacific, Granite Hills and Hemet Tahquitz. That’s three playoff teams replacing three teams with combined record of 4-26.

So Summit is looking to prepare to play with the big boys. But does it have the talent of the big boys? According to the early looks, the answer to that looks to be a resounding yes. Where that talent seems to be present the most is at the offensive skill positions.

Junior Devon Blackmon ran Summit’s spread offense with speed and explosiveness last year, passing for 1,207 yards and 13 touchdowns while running for 714 yards and another six scores. But he might not even play quarterback this season with the addition of junior Josh Owes.

Owes is an offseason move-in from Maryland and is more of a passing threat, which will allow the fleet-footed Blackmon to spend time at wide receiver in Summit’s spread offense. Considered an elite prospect at WR, Blackmon will join a deep, talented set of weapons at receiver and running back at Owes’ disposal.

Defensively, Summit was able to step up its effectiveness quite a bit, shutting out its first four opponents, registering five overall while holding its opponents to only 12.2 points per game. However, the SkyHawks lost quite a bit of talent from that side of the ball a year ago, so the tougher nonconference schedule will be used to get the younger SkyHawks acclimated before heading into a competitive Sunkist League.

Summit’s schedule (Home games in CAPS, league games with *)

Sept. 4 – vs. Etiwanda (Colony HS)
Sept. 11 – at Redlands
Sept. 18 – FONTANA
Oct. 2 – vs. Silverado (Victor Valley HS)
Oct. 8 – SULTANA
Oct. 16 – BLOOMINGTON*
Oct. 23 – at Jurupa Valley*
Oct. 29 – KAISER*
Nov. 6 – RIVERSIDE NORTE VISTA*
Nov. 12 – vs. Riverside Patriot (Rubidoux HS)

Note: Summit will play its home games at Miller High School.

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