– To nominate athletic performances for inclusion each Wednesday to the Top-5 list of Orlando Sports Central Standouts, send over an email to JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com –

1.) Football Team – UCF Knights – They were 0-22 in Top-25 games coming into the weekend but the UCF football team finally did something no other team before them could do as they handed No. 12 Houston a 37-32 setback at Bright House Networks Stadium. Quarterback Brett Hodges went 21-for-25 for 241 yards, one touchdown and one interception while running back Brynn Harvey rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns on 35 carries.

2.) Spencer Shumway – Lyman Greyhounds – In the final game of the state bowling tournament last week at Boardwalk Bowl, Shumway bowled a 268 to take home the individual title for the Greyhounds. The junior helped his team wrap up conference and district titles before finishing the season atop the medal stand in East Orlando.

Chris Johnson

3.) Isaac Sosa – UCF Knights – After scoring a career-high 26 points in a season-opening 84-67 win over UMass last week the sophomore guard was named Conference USA Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. Sosa shot 9-of -11 from the field, made 6-of-7 shots from beyond the three-point line, pulled in four rebounds and dished out two assists in 33 minutes of work.

Jennifer George

4.) Chris Johnson – Tennessee Titans – The former Olympia High School star continues to put up big numbers for the resurging Titans. This past weekend against Buffalo he rushed 26 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns and caught nine passes for another 100 yards in the win. Johnson already has rushing efforts of 228, 197, 135 and 128 yards this season.

5.) Jennifer George – Florida Gators – The former Timber Creek and Bishop Moore basketball standout went 7-of-9 from the field and 7-of-11 from the free throw line for 21 points while grabbing five offensive rebounds and two steals in 16 minutes of play during her collegiate debut, an 85-62 win over Stetson on Saturday.

More ––

Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 11/11/09

Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 11/4/09

Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 10/28/09

Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 10/21/09

Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 10/14/09

Spencer Shumway (Photo by J.C. Carnahan)

Sure, his arms went up and a grin flashed so wide on his face that words were not needed to explain the euphoria he felt as supporters showered him with hugs afterwards.

“That’s the most emotion I’ve seen out of that kid all year,” said Shumway’s coach Jack Bloomingdale.

If you weren’t paying close attention during the state finals match between the junior out of Lyman High School and Nick Speanburg of Jupiter then you’d think things were a lot closer than the 268-235 final game turned out to be in the best-of-three series. Shumway won the first game 279-247 and dropped the second game 248-206.

“I can’t even describe it,” Shumway said as the hugs kept rolling in. ”I still can’t even believe it.”

Spencer Shumway (Photo by J.C. Carnahan)

Shumway bowled in that final series in front of a vocal group of fans that helped push him down that homestretch.

“They’re everything,” he said of the bystanders. “I’m friends with a bunch of the people from all the different teams and having them behind me has really pushed me through the entire tournament.”

Not bad for a kid who came into the final day of competition a bit anxious and “not feeling quite right” when he woke up that morning.

“The last couple matches it all started coming together,” he said. “I was making good shots and it all worked out good. It was perfect.”

It’s been like that for much of the season for Shumway, especially some four weeks back when he helped kickstart the postseason drive for the Greyhounds as he nearly bowled a perfect three-game series.

Spencer Shumway (Photo by J.C. Carnahan)

“That started something for him and the rest of the team,” said Bloomingdale. “They all bowled well after that game. That was a big game for us.”

From there Lyman went on to win their conference and district tournaments before being bounced as a team from the tournament by state runner-up Timber Creek in the consolation round.

“We knew he had that potential,” said Bloomingdale of Shumway taking the title. “He’s one of the greatest kids. He does everything you ask him to do. He works hard, he bowls – I don’t know how many games a day – and his parents are the most supportive parents a kid could have. He’s just got everything going for him.”

Including one more season to return to states and do it all over again.

–– More Coverage ––

Video and photos at WESH

Sam Gardner at Orlando Sentinel