By JOHN D’ABRUZZO

jd’abruzzo@ncnewsonline.com

Michael Bongivengo never stopped believing.

Although the New Castle High football team struggled during a scoreless first half against Hopewell on Friday, the senior quarterback believed the Red Hurricane would get it going in the second half.

“I always have faith,” he said. “I told the line and the rest of the offense to step up, get ready to play and go score.”

And the ’Canes followed his lead.

New Castle scored four times, including 19 points in the fourth quarter, en route to a 25-7 WPIAL Class AAA Parkway Conference upset of the Vikings.

Bongivengo completed 7 of 14 passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing with 82 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.

“We weren’t producing as much as we should have (in the first half),” Bongivengo said. “We went (into the second half) and hit them hard. We played the game and let our offense go from there.”

For his performance, Bongivengo is Lawrence County’s Athlete of the Week, as selected by The New Castle News sports staff. The award is sponsored by Washington Centre Physical Therapy.

Through four games, the 6-foot, 185-pound Bongivengo leads the county in passing with 629 yards. He has completed 49 of 85 attempts with five touchdowns and four interceptions. He has rushed for 182 yards and three touchdowns on 42 carries.

“He brings toughness,” his father and New Castle coach Frank Bongivengo Jr. said. “He’s a tough, hard-nosed kid. He brings a mental aspect, as well. We put a lot of pressure on him and he’s handled it very well.

“Each game he’s progressing and getting more and more comfortable. Those are the things he brings to help this team win.

“He’s going to have to make the decisions,” coach Bongivengo said. “He’s gotta know when to pull it down, when to throw it away, when to stick it in there, when to put some touch on it; those are all things throughout the course of the game that he does. And he has done a decent job these last few games of being able to pull it down, run and get some yardage.”

Last season, Bongivengo completed 40 of 83 passes for five touchdowns and 521 yards. He also ran for 609 yards on 106 carries.

“He’s done everything that we’ve asked,” coach Bongivengo said. “He’s carried a lot of the load on his shoulders. His maturity level is tremendous. I couldn’t be happier of where he is at this point.”

New Castle (1-1 conference, 1-3 overall) heads to West Allegheny on Friday for another Parkway Conference clash.

“We have to play defense like we did (against Hopewell) and then move the ball like we know how,” the younger Bongivengo said. “We have to use our speed to our advantage and then take advantage of it.”

THE MICHAEL BONGIVENGO FILE

POSITION: Quarterback

GRADE: Senior

PARENTS: Frank and Karen Bongivengo

KNOWN FOR: Bongivengo helped the Red Hurricane earn a 25-7 WPIAL Class AAA Parkway Conference victory over Hopewell. Bongivengo completed 7 of 14 passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns as well as lead New Castle in rushing with 82 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.

FAVORITE TEAM: Pittsburgh Steelers

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler. “He brings great enthusiasm to the game. He’s a great thrower and he can run the ball if he has to. He wears No. 6.”

BESIDES FOOTBALL: Bongivengo also is a member of the New Castle boys basketball and baseball teams.