New Castle advances to WPIAL Class 4A title game
New Castle (38) vs. Ringgold (17)
Written: Nov 11, 2016
  By Joe Sager
New Castle News
MARS — Throughout his four years, Geno Stone has compiled a pretty nice highlight video.
You can label pretty much all the footage from Friday night’s 38-17 WPIAL Class 4A semifinal win over Ringgold at Mars High as “Volume 2” for the New Castle senior.
Stone scored five touchdowns, picked off three passes and caused another interception to help the Red Hurricane advance to the district title game for the first time since 1998.
“It’s probably the greatest feeling ever,” Stone said. “We came together as a family this year. This is probably the best team I have been on. I love all of them equally and I am just happy I am with them.”
New Castle (8-4) meets Thomas Jefferson, a 35-7 winner over West Mifflin, for the WPIAL title Friday at Heinz Field at a time to be announced.
“It’s a good feeling right now. We’re going to enjoy the victory, but we look forward to maybe the tallest task you can get in the state of Pennsylvania in Thomas Jefferson,” said New Castle coach Joe Cowart, the quarterback of the program’s 1998 WPIAL championship squad. “It’s a fantastic feeling. I couldn’t be more proud of a group of young men for the belief they had in what we’re trying to do as a staff and for the belief and love they have for each other. I think that shows up in the critical moments of the game. It took us a little while this season to get going and overcome these bigger teams in front of us, but we have a belief system now that anyone we face is beatable if we do our job the best we possibly can.”
Stone made his presence felt on the team’s fifth play when he exploded through the middle of the field for a 42-yard TD run.
“After that first touchdown, I knew I could do pretty much whatever I wanted to,” he said. “This was probably the best game I’ve ever had in my life. I just knew I had to help my team win tonight.”
Brayden Cartwright’s 32-yard field goal boosted the lead to 10-0 on the first play of the second quarter. Late in the frame, the ’Canes stopped the Rams (8-3) when Stone tipped a pass and Kymani Summers dove and intercepted the ball at the New Castle 32.
“He is just an amazing player,” New Castle’s Marcus Hooker said. “I love that kid; I am glad to have him as a teammate.”
Stone scored on a short touchdown run in the third. His interception at the 1 and 61-yard return helped set up his third score and a 24-0 lead early in the fourth. However, a safety sparked Ringgold as the Rams, who beat New Castle, 41-27, on Oct. 21, roared back for 17 points in a 3:52 span.
“We saw it in Week 8 — Ringgold plays its best football in the biggest moments of the game,” Cowart said. “It started to get tight at the end and we’ve done this in consecutive weeks — in those big, winnable moments, our guys believe in each other and able to counter the momentum swings of a game.”
Hooker set up Stone’s momentum-changing touchdown with a 38-yard run. Stone capped the drive when he ran around the right side, delivered a punishing stiff arm and bolted down the far sideline for a 23-yard score. That gave the ’Canes a 31-17 edge with 4:17 left.
“I just wanted the ball in my hands in that moment to get us back up,” Stone said. “I knew I could do it. I just trust my abilities to do it all the time.”
On Ringgold’s next possession, Stone picked off his third pass. It set up his fourth rushing touchdown of the night to put the game out of reach.
“He has been spectacular this entire season. But, this may have been his masterpiece,” Cowart said. “He has plenty of scholarship offers to FCS schools, but I think there isn’t a guy in the United States of America that’s as underrecruited as him. That kid can go play for a power-five football team across this landscape tomorrow and would be an absolute asset to that team. He is as good as it gets in this state and I hope people are starting to figure that out when they watch him play.”
Stone finished with 94 yards rushing on 12 carries. He passed for 79 yards as well. Hooker piled up 178 yards on 34 carries.
(Email: ncsports@ncnewsonline.com)
RINGGOLD NEW CASTLE
11 First downs 13
35 Yards Rushing 296
24 Yards Lost 7
9 Net Rushing 289
40 Passes Attempted 11
20 Passes Completed 4
5 Passes Intercepted 0
250 Yards Passing 79
259 Total Yards 368
2-0 Fumbles-Lost 1-0
4-35.8 Punts-Average 3-35.7
7-49 Penalties-Yards 5-60
RINGGOLD 0 0 0 17 - 17
NEW CASTLE 7 3 14 14- 38
Scoring plays
NEW CASTLE – Geno Stone, 42-yard run (Brayden Cartwright kick).
NEW CASTLE – Cartwright, 32-yard field goal.
NEW CASTLE – Stone, 3-yard run (Cartwright kick).
NEW CASTLE – Stone, 1-yard run (Cartwright kick).
RINGGOLD – Safety, New Castle player tackled in end zone.
RINGGOLD – Max Maciejewski, 18-yard pass from George Martin (Maciejewski pass from Martin).
RINGGOLD – Maciejewski, 14-yard pass from George Martin (Matt Cannon kick).
NEW CASTLE – Stone, 23-yard run (Cartwright kick).
NEW CASTLE – Stone, 2-yard run (Cartwright kick).
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