'Canes off to 3-0 start in loop for first time since '02
New Castle (54) vs. Ambridge (0)
Written: Sep 17, 2016
By Ron Poniewasz Jr.
New Castle News
It all adds up just fine for the New Castle High football team.
Strong defense, plus big plays, especially those from the versatile Geno Stone. It translates into one thing for the Red Hurricane — sole possession of first place in the WPIAL Class 4A Northwest Nine Conference.
New Castle gave up just seven first downs and 70 yards of total offense in a 54-0 conference win over Ambridge at Taggart Stadium.
The win propels the 'Canes (3-0 conference, 3-1 overall) into sole possession of first place in the conference standings by a half game over South Fayette (2-0, 4-0).
"We talked a bit about that this week," New Castle coach Joe Cowart said. "It's been a long time for a team from New Castle to start 3-0 in league play.
"We know we have greater challenges in the future. But we want to take care of business this week and we did that."
The 'Canes, who are ranked No. 3 in the WPIAL in Class 4A by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, last started 3-0 in conference action in 2002.
Stone played just the first two quarters because the 'Canes owned a 47-0 advantage at the break. But that was good enough for him to complete all four of his passes for 151 yards and two scores with no interceptions.
In addition, Stone rushed one time for 57 yards and a touchdown. He also returned a punt 70 yards for a score. A second punt return for a score was nullified by a penalty.
"I just wanted to come out and make sure I played hard. It helped me a lot," Stone said. "It feels great to be in the position we're in.
"I'm trying to do the best I can to make sure we continue to work hard and do what we're doing. I'm happy we're playing well."
Said Cowart of Stone's performance, "He didn't get that much work. Every time he touched the ball something special happened. He's shown the capability to do that all year against everyone we've played. We've come to expect that from him and he's just having a fantastic senior season and we hope that continues."
The Bridgers (0-3, 0-3) couldn't cover punts with Stone deep to receive. Stone was able to weave into open spaces on the return that stood for a touchdown and the one that was brought back. The visitors didn't even touch the senior on either return.
"I've said for a long time that I've been around football for years and years, he's probably the best punt returner I've ever been around," Cowart said of Stone. "But that's probably more of how he tracks the football and catches everything, which is always good. Then he has an explosive ability with the ball in his hands."
Stone's 57-yard scoring run opened the scoring and he found Lorenzo Gardner on a 19-yard scoring pass to put New Castle up 14-0 after a pair of Brayden Cartwright conversion kicks.
Stone's 70-yard punt return and Cartwright's extra point put the 'Canes up 21-0 after one period. It also added to Ambridge's first-quarter woes. The Bridgers have been outscored 92-0 in the first period this season.
"When you play a team that is struggling like Ambridge is, you do want to get off to a fast start and take the hope away from those guys if you can," Cowart said. "A lot of people were saying it's a faceless and nameless opponent. But we needed to be better on our end and I thought we were; I thought we played with good speed and energy when the varsity guys were in there."
Stone accounted for his fourth consecutive score when he hit Garrett Farah on a pattern over the middle in the second stanza. Farah took the ball in stride and raced 88 yards for a touchdown. Cartwright's kick pushed the lead to 28-0.
"We were always trying to spread the ball around," Stone said. "I made sure to put the ball in a good place for Garrett and he did the rest."
Gardner finished with 125 rushing on just three carries for the hosts. He tallied 90 of those yards on a scoring run in the second quarter.
The 'Canes executed just 18 plays from scrimmage in the first half en route to 47 points.
New Castle returns to conference action at 7 p.m. Friday when it makes the trek to Indiana (0-2, 1-2).
(Email: rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com)
AMBRIDGE NEW CASTLE
7 First downs 9
72 Yards Rushing 361
75 Yards Lost 6
-3 Net Rushing 355
14 Passes Attempted 4
5 Passes Completed 4
1 Passes Intercepted 0
73 Yards Passing 151
70 Total Yards 506
2-1 Fumbles-Lost 3-2
8-26.6 Punts-Average 0-0
3-11 Penalties-Yards 7-36
AMBRIDGE 0 0 0 0 — 0
NEW CASTLE 21 26 0 7 — 54
Scoring plays
NEW CASTLE — Geno Stone, 57-yard run (Brayden Cartwright kick).
NEW CASTLE — Lorenzo Gardner, 19-yard pass from Stone (Cartwright kick).
NEW CASTLE — Stone, 70-yard punt return (Cartwright kick).
NEW CASTLE — Garrett Farah, 88-yard pass from Stone (Cartwright kick).
NEW CASTLE — Marcus Hooker, 25-yard run (kick failed).
NEW CASTLE — Gardner, 90-yard run (kick failed).
NEW CASTLE — Giovanni Eggleston, 18-yard run (Cartwright kick).
NEW CASTLE — Jaylon Lane, 45-yard run (Cartwright kick).
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