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’Canes in good hands with Carter on both sides of the ball

’Canes in good hands with Carter on both sides of the ball

Written: Oct 12, 2011
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By Joe Sager

News Correspondent

Big situations in big games call for big performances.

Enter Marcus Carter.

The New Castle High senior accounted for three touchdowns — and nearly a fourth — in the Red Hurricane’s crucial 32-28 Parkway Conference win at Hopewell on Friday.

His performance earned him Athlete of the Week honors, an award sponsored by Washington Centre Physical Therapy and selected by the New Castle News sports staff.

However, Carter’s biggest play did not account for any points. After New Castle’s go-ahead score late in the game, he intercepted a pass and returned it for an apparent pick-6. An illegal block nullified the touchdown, but New Castle was able to run out the clock to seal the comeback victory.

“The interception was a surprise,” Carter said. “We were in Cover-5. I saw their No. 2 receiver did an out route. I just looked at the quarterback, stepped up and the ball fell into my hands and I ran down the field. Even though it got called back and I could have had four touchdowns, that’s OK because we won the game.”

New Castle coach Frank Bongivengo Jr. was thrilled to see Carter come through in the clutch.

“That was huge. That pretty much sealed the game. You want your players to be in those situations to make those big-time plays,” he said. “Marcus has been one of our big-play guys this year. We’ve put the ball in his hands a lot and in a lot of different situations. He has responded for us. Last week was no different. He made a couple nice catches and had some touchdowns and ran a reverse for a touchdown. Those are big plays that are needed in crucial situations and in crucial games.”

Carter hauled in a pair of TD passes from quarterback Johnny Matarazzo. He added a 12-yard TD run on a reverse, too.

“We just put that in last week,” Carter said. “I was definitely surprised in the huddle when Johnny called it.”

Bongivengo just wants to get the ball into Carter’s hands.

“He’s a really good athlete. He can run, jump, catch. He has all kind of ability,” he said. “If you watch him, during the course of the game, it’s hard to say he’s not one of the best players on the field. I have heard other coaches say that.”

Nevertheless, Carter, who was an all-conference selection last year, remains one of the Parkway’s top targets once again.

“I think Marcus has become much more consistent in his route running this year,” Bongivengo said. “His route running has been really, really good.”

Carter has formed a solid chemistry with Matarazzo. The two have been pitching and catching since middle school.

“Johnny and I just have that connection. He knows where I am going to be. I run my patterns well and it’s just a connection thing,” he said. “It’s kind of easy when we’ve been playing for so long. He’s great and he knows where I am going to be and I know where the ball is going to be.”

Added Bongivengo: “I think this is the best they’ve looked as a combo. I think they both feel very comfortable with each other. When you have a nice rapport like that between a receiver and a quarterback, it makes it easier.”

Carter hopes he and the ’Canes (2-2 conference, 3-3 overall) can continue their winning ways Friday against West Allegheny.

“The Parkway is crazy right now. Everybody is knocking everybody off and you don’t know who is going to be No. 1, 2, 3 or 4 to get those playoff spots,” he said. “If we can beat West A and Hopewell loses to Central Valley, we’ll be (in third) and then we have to continue on from there.”
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