From pitching a complete-game victory in the CIF-Central Coast Section championship game to quarterbacking Live Oak to the section football finals, the prep sports world was Matthew Cummins' oyster in 2007-08.
After a re-aggrevated calf injury sidelined Cummins for the middle part of football season, the multi-threat senior returned to form in Week 8 against Independence - and hasn't let up since.
"That calf strain was something we saw last year," said Acorns' football coach Jon Michael Porras. "We treated him with kid gloves, and as soon as he came back against Independence, he got two touchdowns and an interception."
Cummins' injury kept him out of the running for all-league honors, but the wideout/defensive back turned starting QB commanded plenty of respect. He rushed for five touchdowns, tossed another and averaged 20.8 yards a reception. He also was a lock-down corner, Porras said.
"He was one of the best cover corners in the league," Porras added. "Matt is a very determined young man. When he sets his eyes on something, he goes to it - 100 percent. He leads by example."
That was part of the reason why Porras and his staff moved Cummins under center after Live Oak's top three quarterbacks lost the job for various reasons.
Cummins' first start: a 17-14 CIF-CCS Semifinals win over Saratoga.
"He hadn't taken a snap in years," Porras said. "We were still pretty confident he'd get the job done."
Cummins did no less during baseball season. As a pitcher and shortstop, he collected his second straight Blossom Valley Athletic League MVP honor while leading the team in batting average (.394), strikeouts (100), RBIs (27), stolen bases (12), home runs (2) and ERA (1.59) among starters.
He finished the year at 10-3 and, after helping lead Live Oak to its 14th BVAL title, guided the Acorns to their first CIF-CCS championship.
Cummins struck out seven batters, walked one and surrendered no earned runs on six hits in the finals game against Santa Cruz.
"He's probably one of the most competitive athletes I've ever coached," his father and baseball coach Mark Cummins said. "As a coach, when you get tough with him, that's when he was at his best. That's the Matthew we know."
Scott Adams Scott Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.
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