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Neshannock quarterback made
all the right moves in big win

Neshannock quarterback made all the right moves in big win

Written: Sep 03, 2008
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By JOHN D’ABRUZZO

jd’abruzzo@ncnewsonline.com

Josh Brown is a quarterback who doesn’t mind saving his arm.

“You’ll see more of it,” the Neshannock High senior said. “I’m still working on it. It’s not too bad, but I choose to run the ball more.”

Brown favors running the ball, and when he see a hole ...

“I’m taking it.”

Brown’s running ability helped him gain 150 yards and score two touchdowns during the Lancers’ 34-0 nonleague victory at Kennedy Catholic on Saturday afternoon.

Brown scored on runs of 33 and 18 yards.

But he did throw the ball, too, completing 4 of 8 passes for 69 yards.

For his performance, Brown 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.

“He did a good job doing everything we asked him to do,” Lancers coach Pat Cuba said. “He made the right reads, as far as the passing game and the running game. He’s very coachable.”

Brown was encouraged by the way Neshannock did not buckle in posting a shutout.

“We prepared really hard all week,” Brown said. “We wanted to show them what we were made of. We got good blocking, our backs ran well, and overall we moved the ball and stopped them from moving the ball.

“In the beginning of the game we were having a little bit of trouble with a few minor things. (Cuba) made some switches during the game and my line blocked well. Chris Kirkwood did a good job running the ball.”

The 6-foot, 195-pound Brown began last season as the Lancers’ quarterback. Injuries, however, forced him to split time between running back and quarterback.

Brown rushed for 279 yards and two touchdowns on 63 carries last season. He also completed 26 of 60 passes for 342 yards and four scores.

“I got to see more action last year because I was the quarterback and a running back, so it helps me now because of that experience,” Brown said.

Cuba enjoys the fact his signal caller can make a split-second decision.

“He’s able to do that,” Cuba said. “He was here working out most of the time in the offseason and we focused a lot on (his ability to run). He understands what he needs to be looking for and getting the right reads.

“He’s going to make mistakes every once in a while, but 70-to-80 percent of the time he’s made the right decision. That’s excellent to get that type of percentage. Even when he makes mistakes, he attacks the line of scrimmage.”

Cuba has also witnessed improvement from last season.

“He brings toughness ... that mental toughness,” Cuba said. “He’s gotten tougher both mentally and physically. He’s a lot more mature in the decisions he makes and doesn’t get flustered easily.

“The guys around him help, too. They help calm him down and keep him focused. It’s a team effort.”

For Brown, he’s banking on more success and the Lancers earning more respect in the process.

“Every team looks down on us, thinking, ‘They’re just Neshannock and we’re going to kick them around,’” he said, citing the Lancers’ 2-7 record last year. “Yeah, we had a bad season last year, but we don’t want to be seen like that.

“We want to go out and show everybody that we can go out and win games.”
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