Northport Honors 1991 Champs

David Sumner is one of the great athletes who led one of the great teams in sports history. So 20 years after his signature triumph, Sumner was greeted warmly .

The quarterback was one of 11 former members of the 1991 Northport football team honored, a group fondly remembered as the greatest in program history. The Tigers won the Rutgers Trophy as Suffolk’s best team after a 28-9 win over Bellport to take the Large School championship.

Homecoming Coverage: l l .

Today Sumner, 38, is a personal trainer who lives in Arlington, Va. And while he still has family in Northport, the 20th anniversary of the Tigers’ last championship provided the first chance for so many one-time teammates to assemble once more.

“So many memories,” Sumner said. “The first thing that came back was how hard we worked as a unit. We talked a lot about the Connetquot game we lost [early in the season]. We think that was the catalyst.”

Sumner added: “We made a commitment to ourselves after we lost that Connetquot game. We thought we were really good. That put things into perspective. It’s the obstacles that make you better and stronger in life.”

Northport won out, beating strong programs in Lindenhurst and Sachem. Sumner also won the Hansen Award in 1991 as Suffolk’s best player and went on to play safety in the Big East for Pitt.

“We were just so happy about what we accomplished as a group,” Sumner said. “I’ve been on a lot of teams in my life. I don’t recall ever being on a team that literally had one mindset and one focus.”

Despite a recent run of success, including a  last season, Northport has not won a county title since.

Kip Lukralle, in his 26th season, was the coach in 1991 and now. It's a fact that doesn't surprise members of the 1991 team.

"I feel fortunate to have had them as coaches," Sumner said. "They're not your typical football coaches. They care about what happens to the kids – during and after football. They're like father figures to some."

Patch created a Facebook page where you can follow the Tigers this season as they push for another playoff run.