By Justin Kenny of Outside the Huddle
If South Adams is going to challenge Adams Central for an ACAC title, it will have to do so without one of its top players.
Junior Nic Stuber went down with an injury in the second quarter of last Friday’s game against Bluffton. Despite hopes that the injury was minor, it was diagnosed Wednesday as a torn ACL.
Stuber, the leading rusher for the Starfires and the second-leading tackler, will miss the rest of the season.
“It sucks,” South Adams coach Grant Moser said. “Probably he and (sophomore Nick Miller) are our two best players. He’s our heart and soul as far as our leadership goes.”
Stuber was off to a sensational start to the 2018 season, rushing for 242 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a little over two games. He had also accumulated 24 tackles, a pair of fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.
While a big loss on defense, Stuber’s absence will hit the Starfires’ offense hardest. Moser will turn to a pair of sophomores – Alex Gorney and Jacob Plattner – to man the tailback position while senior Drake Deitsch and sophomore Christian Summersett split time at fullback.
“Jake Plattner is a straight downhill runner while Gorney is more finesse,” said Moser about Stuber’s replacements. “Nic is a mix of the both of them. He can roll over you or go for 60.”
According to Moser, Stuber hopes to have surgery quickly and begin rehab in an attempt to be back next spring for baseball season.
As for South Adams, an already-young team will get younger on the field without Stuber. With Class 1A No. 3 Monroe Central and No. 7 Adams Central coming up after an improved Heritage team, Moser knows his team has its work cut out for it despite being 3-0.
“I looked in the huddle during a play in the third quarter against Bluffton and I counted eight sophomores,” Moser said.
The loss of Stuber puts even more of that sophomore class on the field come Friday.
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