Gulliver junior Tacoi Sumler sat with his legs stretched out on the football field Friday night and a tired look on his face.

The face hid the flood of emotions going through his mind moments after he helped the Raiders secure one of their biggest victories in school history.

Sumler caught seven passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns, and came down with a late interception that sealed Gulliver's 28-27 victory against host Monsignor Pace and clinched the runner-up playoff berth in District 8-2B.

As Pace tried to rally with less than a minute remaining, quarterback Stephen Morris heaved a deep pass down the sideline. Sumler stepped in front of his intended receiver and brought down the pass.

``When I caught the ball, I seriously wanted to cry,'' Sumler said. ``I think I left a tear or two on the field.''

Sumler, like his coach Earl Sims, had no idea just how much of a landmark win it was for Gulliver (7-2, 6-1 in district), which will play at North Broward Prep in the first round of the playoffs in two weeks.

The victory not only was Gulliver's first ever at Pace's home field.

It not only eliminated the Spartans (6-3, 5-2).

It also snapped Monsignor Pace's 18-year run of making the playoffs, which was tied with Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas for the longest streak in state history.

``I'm honored to be a part of that,'' Sumler said. ``It's a tremendous victory.''

And it came without one of Gulliver's top players.

Versatile junior running back/defensive back/kick returner Cedric Walker was out with a strained MCL, which may keep him out until the second round of the playoffs.

Two freshmen picked up the slack on offense.

Daryl Chestnut opened it with an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that gave Gulliver a 6-0 lead. Chestnut finished with 86 yards on 17 carries.

Bo Ellis had 52 yards on 13 carries, and picked up key first downs during the game to balance Gulliver's prolific passing game.

``I challenged those guys to step up with Walker out,'' Sims said. ``They're our puppies, but we know what kind of skill they have, and they made big plays tonight.''

Senior Michael Strauss threw for 251 yards and two touchdowns on 17-of-41 attempts, and helped the Raiders erase a 27-18 deficit in the third quarter. After a Franco Viola field goal cut the deficit to six points, Gulliver regained possession. Strauss swung a pass near the sideline to Sumler, who broke it down the sideline for a 48-yard go-ahead score.

The Raiders' defense put continuous pressure on Morris, who finished with 147 yards passing and two touchdowns.

• Booker T. Washington 37, Edison 0: The Tornadoes, the top-ranked team in the state in Class 3A, completed a sweep of its District 16-3A opponents at Traz Powell Stadium behind another stellar performance from their defense.

Although its offense struggled at times, junior defensive tackle Elkino Watson helped Booker T. (9-0, 3-0) remain unbeaten with three sacks, a fumble recovery and a tackle on Edison running back Carlton Colson that resulted in a safety. The Red Raiders fell to 0-9, 0-3.

Booker T.'s defense posted its third shutout and is averaging 9.9 points allowed per game.

A couple of the Tornadoes' defensive stars made a big play on special teams in the fourth quarter. Defensive end Lyndon Trail blocked a punt and linebacker Michael Ross recovered and returned it six yards for a touchdown.

One of Booker T.'s offensive stars, senior Eduardo Clements, played for the first time since injuring his knee Oct. 3 against Northwestern.

Clements was used primarily as a decoy on quarterback bootleg plays, but did carry the ball once. He made the one rush count as he found an opening and ran 31 yards for a touchdown that gave Booker T. a 23-0 lead late in the third quarter.

-- ANDRE C. FERNANDEZ

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