Shumpert Named Area Football Player Of The Year
November 13, 2018 at 2:31 p.m.
Shumpert Named Area Football Player Of The Year
By Aaron [email protected]
That was Triton senior Delano Shumpert’s mindset when his team needed someone to make a big play.
For that, as well as his leadership and overall excellence on the field, Shumpert is the Times-Union Football Player of the Year.
“He’s a big-time playmaker, and you can’t teach that,” said Triton coach Ron Brown. “That’s just something that comes naturally.”
Shumpert, a running back and defensive back, began the year with one goal in mind: to honor the memory of his friend and former teammate, the late Cameron Scarberry.
Before Scarberry, who was a junior, died in an automobile accident last season, he shared with Shumpert his goals for Triton to go 6-3 and win a sectional championship by his senior year.
“Accomplishing goals that he wanted meant a lot to me, and to him as well,” Shumpert said.
Shumpert dedicated his senior season to Scarberry, and came out with an electric effort in a season-opening win over South Central that set the tone for the year.
He caught one touchdown pass, while running for two more against the Satellites.
“I like to come out, first game of the season, let everybody know what we’re about and then just carry it on throughout the season,” Shumpert said.
The next few weeks, however, weren’t as exciting for Shumpert. He suffered a thigh contusion on the opening kickoff against LaVille in Week 2.
Though Shumpert finished the game, the Trojans lost 19-0 to the Lancers.
Shumpert was held out of Week 3’s win over Caston as a precaution, and returned for Week 4’s loss to Bremen.
Shumpert found redemption in Week 5’s 35-21 victory over Culver. He hauled in three passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
It’s just what Shumpert needed coming off the injury.
“It feels really good to finally come out with your full potential to help your team,” he said.
The Trojans faced Class 1A No. 1 and defending state champion Pioneer in Week 6.
The game was a blowout loss, but Triton managed to be one of three teams to score on the Panthers this season.
After that game, Shumpert began to realize his full potential both on and off the gridiron.
“Every week he continued to step his game up, and not just by his play but by his attitude,” Brown said.
Shumpert’s teammates looked to him for leadership in the locker room and big plays on the field.
Big plays, they got.
Triton was down by a touchdown late in the first half at North Judson in Week 7.
Quarterback James Snyder dropped back and connected with Delano Shumpert, who stretched his body for what Brown called at the time a “Superman catch” to tie the game.
“I knew someone was gonna have to make a big play, and I said, ‘Why not me?’” Shumpert said.
The 1A Trojans faced Class 3A Knox in Week 8. They jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first half, but Knox battled back to make the score 14-12.
The Trojans were forced to punt late in the game, which could have given Knox one more chance to chalk up a win.
Thanks to Shumpert, that didn’t happen. Though he hadn’t played on special teams since he was freshman on Triton’s JV squad, Brown called his number to make a clutch play.
Shumpert responded valiantly, dashing down the field to meet Knox’s punt returner.
The returner didn’t signal for a fair catch, and was apparently intimidated by Shumpert’s exuberance.
He muffed the punt, and Shumpert recovered to seal the win for the Trojans.
“I put kids in that I trust, and I knew if I placed him in there, at the least he was gonna tackle the ball carrier,” Brown said.
The Trojans beat the Bluejays, and defeated Winamac to finish the regular season at 6-3.
They blew by Culver in the sectional opener before trouncing Winamac to reach the sectional championship game.
Once again, Shumpert came through in the clutch.
Triton led 21-17 over North Judson when Shumpert took a pitch 58 yards to the house for insurance points.
The Trojans won 29-17 to become sectional champions for the first time since 2008, and just the third time in program history.
The team was crowded at midfield after the game. Amidst the flurry of excitement, there was a brief moment of quiet. Then Shumpert, grinning broadly, let out a triumphant roar and jumped into the cluster of teammates.
“It felt so good, because that was (Scarberry’s) last goal,” Shumpert said.
They lost to Pioneer in the regional to finish 9-4 on the year. Triton’s nine wins is the most in program history and the most of any area program this season.
Shumpert finished the year with 385 yards and five touchdowns on 31 carries (12.4 yards per carry), while catching 36 passes for 670 yards (18.6 yards per catch) and eight touchdowns.
He had a total of 13 offensive touchdowns for 1,055 total yards of offense.
Defensively, he was second on the team in total tackles with 93, while tallying two interceptions, one fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown.
More than the numbers, Shumpert gained life lessons from his senior season.
“You don’t know when your last game’s gonna be,” Shumpert said. “So you gotta play every game like it’s your last, and put everything out there.”
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That was Triton senior Delano Shumpert’s mindset when his team needed someone to make a big play.
For that, as well as his leadership and overall excellence on the field, Shumpert is the Times-Union Football Player of the Year.
“He’s a big-time playmaker, and you can’t teach that,” said Triton coach Ron Brown. “That’s just something that comes naturally.”
Shumpert, a running back and defensive back, began the year with one goal in mind: to honor the memory of his friend and former teammate, the late Cameron Scarberry.
Before Scarberry, who was a junior, died in an automobile accident last season, he shared with Shumpert his goals for Triton to go 6-3 and win a sectional championship by his senior year.
“Accomplishing goals that he wanted meant a lot to me, and to him as well,” Shumpert said.
Shumpert dedicated his senior season to Scarberry, and came out with an electric effort in a season-opening win over South Central that set the tone for the year.
He caught one touchdown pass, while running for two more against the Satellites.
“I like to come out, first game of the season, let everybody know what we’re about and then just carry it on throughout the season,” Shumpert said.
The next few weeks, however, weren’t as exciting for Shumpert. He suffered a thigh contusion on the opening kickoff against LaVille in Week 2.
Though Shumpert finished the game, the Trojans lost 19-0 to the Lancers.
Shumpert was held out of Week 3’s win over Caston as a precaution, and returned for Week 4’s loss to Bremen.
Shumpert found redemption in Week 5’s 35-21 victory over Culver. He hauled in three passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
It’s just what Shumpert needed coming off the injury.
“It feels really good to finally come out with your full potential to help your team,” he said.
The Trojans faced Class 1A No. 1 and defending state champion Pioneer in Week 6.
The game was a blowout loss, but Triton managed to be one of three teams to score on the Panthers this season.
After that game, Shumpert began to realize his full potential both on and off the gridiron.
“Every week he continued to step his game up, and not just by his play but by his attitude,” Brown said.
Shumpert’s teammates looked to him for leadership in the locker room and big plays on the field.
Big plays, they got.
Triton was down by a touchdown late in the first half at North Judson in Week 7.
Quarterback James Snyder dropped back and connected with Delano Shumpert, who stretched his body for what Brown called at the time a “Superman catch” to tie the game.
“I knew someone was gonna have to make a big play, and I said, ‘Why not me?’” Shumpert said.
The 1A Trojans faced Class 3A Knox in Week 8. They jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first half, but Knox battled back to make the score 14-12.
The Trojans were forced to punt late in the game, which could have given Knox one more chance to chalk up a win.
Thanks to Shumpert, that didn’t happen. Though he hadn’t played on special teams since he was freshman on Triton’s JV squad, Brown called his number to make a clutch play.
Shumpert responded valiantly, dashing down the field to meet Knox’s punt returner.
The returner didn’t signal for a fair catch, and was apparently intimidated by Shumpert’s exuberance.
He muffed the punt, and Shumpert recovered to seal the win for the Trojans.
“I put kids in that I trust, and I knew if I placed him in there, at the least he was gonna tackle the ball carrier,” Brown said.
The Trojans beat the Bluejays, and defeated Winamac to finish the regular season at 6-3.
They blew by Culver in the sectional opener before trouncing Winamac to reach the sectional championship game.
Once again, Shumpert came through in the clutch.
Triton led 21-17 over North Judson when Shumpert took a pitch 58 yards to the house for insurance points.
The Trojans won 29-17 to become sectional champions for the first time since 2008, and just the third time in program history.
The team was crowded at midfield after the game. Amidst the flurry of excitement, there was a brief moment of quiet. Then Shumpert, grinning broadly, let out a triumphant roar and jumped into the cluster of teammates.
“It felt so good, because that was (Scarberry’s) last goal,” Shumpert said.
They lost to Pioneer in the regional to finish 9-4 on the year. Triton’s nine wins is the most in program history and the most of any area program this season.
Shumpert finished the year with 385 yards and five touchdowns on 31 carries (12.4 yards per carry), while catching 36 passes for 670 yards (18.6 yards per catch) and eight touchdowns.
He had a total of 13 offensive touchdowns for 1,055 total yards of offense.
Defensively, he was second on the team in total tackles with 93, while tallying two interceptions, one fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown.
More than the numbers, Shumpert gained life lessons from his senior season.
“You don’t know when your last game’s gonna be,” Shumpert said. “So you gotta play every game like it’s your last, and put everything out there.”
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