’Canes look to turn back
clock on Blackhawk Friday
Written: Sep 17, 2009
  By JOE SAGER
ncsports@ncnewsonline.com
The year was 1987.
A gallon of gas cost 89 cents, postage stamps were less than a quarter and Michael Jackson’s music lit up the airwaves.
A lot has changed since then. Gasoline under $2 per gallon seems unthinkable; it costs 44 cents to mail a letter and the “King of Pop” passed away in June.
The New Castle High football team would like to take a trip back in time at 7:30 p.m. Friday when Blackhawk visits Taggart Stadium for a WPIAL Class AAA Parkway Conference showdown.
That’s because the Red Hurricane hasn’t defeated the Cougars since a 25-0 triumph 22 years ago. Both programs have enjoyed plenty of success through the decades so a long drought in the series seems strange. At least it does to Blackhawk coach Joe Hamilton, who has been at the Cougars’ helm since 1976.
“Wow. I didn’t know that,” he said. “There have been a lot of close games and a lot of good battles. When we play New Castle, we always know we are in for tough game. It’s been a real challenge each time.”
New Castle is aware of the streak and ready to end it.
“It’s been a long time. They have been able to beat us one way or another,” New Castle coach Frank Bongivengo Jr. said. “We’ve had the chance to win some games, but they just made one extra play than we did.
“These guys would love to be the guys that break that streak and put us at 3-0 and, more importantly, 1-0 in the conference. It’s exciting to go into conference play against Blackhawk and see how we match up.”
The Cougars handled the ’Canes, 38-14, last season, but the teams wound up sharing the Parkway Conference title with 5-1 records. Blackhawk advanced to the WPIAL title game and fell to eventual PIAA champ Thomas Jefferson, 34-14. New Castle lost to TJ in the semifinals, 47-20.
This season, though, the ’Canes appear to have the advantage as the Cougars (1-1) graduated their entire backfield of Bryan Stefanik, Zach Hayward and Jake Delmonico. In addition, top receiver Chuck Lipp suffered a shoulder injury last Friday and is sidelined for a few weeks, while top rusher Caleb Mancini is nursing a sprained ankle and his status is uncertain.
“We might have the advantage on paper, but paper never won a game,” Bongivengo said. “We know we have some talented kids, but so do they. They have the type of kids that battle you all the way and do the little things right. They have a lot of winning seasons in a row and believe they can beat anyone.
“They lost some great players from last year, but they have guys who can step in and fill any void,” he continued. “Every kid I have seen play thus far has stepped in and done an extremely good job. This is a very good football team and they have a lot of quality players. Coach Hamilton will have them ready.”
The game will mark Matt Emge’s second varsity start at quarterback. The sophomore made his first last Friday in a 35-7 triumph at Knoch. Emge came off the bench in Blackhawk’s opener — a 21-13 loss to Hampton.
“We have a lot of inexperience at quarterback,” Hamilton said. “Emge played well, but he made some mental mistakes. When you consider all the factors, he didn’t do a bad job.
“Injuries have been huge. People have moved away from our school and that is a big factor, too,” he continued. “We need time to collect ourselves. We’re still searching to find right the right people to put in the right spots.”
New Castle is young, too. Four of the team’s skill players are sophomores — running back Justin Fleo, quarterback Johnny Matarazzo and receivers Darrian Rice and Marcus Carter. All have excelled so far.
“We have some young kids , especially on offense. Hopefully, they can continue to progress,” Bongivengo said. “Each game, you see them getting better and more confident.”
Hamilton is aware of the ’Canes’ talent.
“They have a lot of weapons. They are explosive; they have good size and a great defense. They are a really good team,” he said. “They have so much skill and speed that they scare the death out of you.”
New Castle, which beat Indiana, 35-16, last week, hopes to continue its strong start.
“We still have a lot of little things we need to clean up. We have to do that to beat a team like Blackhawk,” Bongivengo said.
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