New Castle comes through
New Castle (25) vs. Butler (0)
Written: Sep 04, 2010
By RON PONIEWASZ JR.
rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com
Offense has been one facet of its game that New Castle High has been able to rely on in recent years.
Last night, it took some time for that offense to get up to full speed.
The Red Hurricane scored two second-quarter touchdowns and the defense shut down Butler for a season-opening 25-0 nonconference verdict at Taggart Stadium.
The loss was the 15th straight for the Golden Tornado.
New Castle advanced deep into Butler territory on its first two drives. However, the Golden Tornado turned the ’Canes away on fourth-and-one at the 24 and fourth-and-two at the 16.
“Offensively, we were a little sluggish at the beginning,” ’Canes coach Frank Bongivengo Jr. said. “We had some good things happen, then we got stopped on two fourth-and-short plays; that can’t happen in a big game.”
Defense kept Butler in check throughout the first half. The Golden Tornado managed just three first downs and 74 total yards.
“Defense held us in there when we were struggling offensively,” Bongivengo said. “A lot of times, people are getting accustomed to us scoring points and scoring points quickly. That didn’t happen tonight and fortunately our defense held tough and was able to give us an opportunity to try and get our momentum going on offense.”
The ’Canes finally got going midway through the second quarter. New Castle junior quarterback Johnny Matarazzo connected with classmate Marcus Carter for a 52-yard completion down to the Butler 18.
Three plays later, Matarazzo ran in from 3 yards out for a 7-0 lead.
“Johnny played well,” Bongivengo said. “We’re going to get him a little more involved with carrying the ball to take a little bit of heat off of Justin. I thought he did a real nice job throwing the ball and I’m sure he’s just going to keep getting better as the year goes on.
Matarazzo helped the ’Canes push the lead out to 13-0 on their next series. He hooked up with Justin Fleo on a screen pass and Fleo raced 36 yards to the Butler 4. Two plays later, Fleo raced in on a 2-yard run.
Matarazzo was 9 of 13 through the air for 211 yards to go along with 25 yards rushing.
Fleo rolled up 133 rushing yards on 25 attempts and two touchdowns.
“I need to thank my linemen; we sort of didn’t click on offense at first,” Fleo said. “The holes weren’t opening up. Once we adjusted, the holes started opening up and we started making plays.
“Once we started to get a feel for things then we started to stick it in the end zone. We have to fix our mistakes and keep getting better.”
Butler started the second half at its own 49 after Darius Hightower returned the kickoff 38 yards. But the Golden Tornado gained just four yards and had to punt.
“I don’t think it was a confidence thing, I just think we missed some assignments and I don’t know why,” first-year Butler coach Jim Rankin said of the drive. “They just have to get excited. It’s an emotional thing.”
Said Bongivengo, “We got too wide down the middle there and they were crossblocking us. They got us kicked out a little bit and they hit a seam a little bit. That was a big stop for us, confidence wise.”
Special teams nearly presented Butler the break it needed. Carter dropped a punt when he was hit just as the ball arrived and the Golden Tornado recovered at the ’Canes 39 on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Randy Gillette recorded two sacks for New Castle, including one that forced Butler to punt on that drive. The Golden Tornado got as deep as the ’Canes 12, but moved back on a clip and Gillette’s sack ended the threat.
New Castle put the game out of reach on a 1-yard run by Fleo with 4:40 left. The score was set up on a 28-yard strike to Corey Eggleston to the Golden Tornado 23.
Butler fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Jalen Holmes tacked on the final score on a 17-yard run with 3:40 to play.
New Castle opens Parkway Conference play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Taggart Stadium against Ambridge (0-1).
“We’re right into the Parkway Conference (next week), Bongivengo said. “We better strap it up and be ready to go.”
BUTLER NEW CASTLE
10 First downs 15
199 Yards Rushing 229
73 Yards Lost 33
126 Net Rushing 196
13 Passes Attempted 13
5 Passes Completed 9
0 Passes Intercepted 0
50 Yards Passing 211
176 Total Yards 407
3-2 Fumbles-Lost 2-1
7-34 Punts-Average 3-39.3
3-26 Penalties-Yards 4-36
BUTLER 0 0 0 0 — 0
NEW CASTLE 0 13 0 12 —25
Scoring plays
NEW CASTLE — Johnny Matarazzo, 3-yard run (Brandon Beck kick).
NEW CASTLE — Justin Fleo, 2-yard run (kick failed).
NEW CASTLE — Fleo, 1-yard run (kick failed).
NEW CASTLE — Jalen Holmes, 17-yard run (kick failed).
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