Sams steps up for 'Canes in tough loss
New Castle (0) vs. Thomas Jefferson (42)
Written: Nov 19, 2016
By Ron Poniewasz Jr.
and Joe Sager
New Castle News
PITTSBURGH — Devin Sams came to play for the New Castle High football team Friday night.
Sams blocked a punt on Thomas Jefferson’s first drive, which gave the ‘Canes the ball on the Jaguars’ 6. However, the team failed to score.
It proved costly in New Castle’s 42-0 loss to Thomas Jefferson in the WPIAL Class 4A championship game at Heinz Field.
Sams, a sophomore, recovered a fumble late in the third quarter. He finished with 31/2 tackles on the night.
“Devin played well. You play in these big moments and a lot of guys are wide-eyed,” New Castle coach Joe Cowart said. “I thought he played good football for us. There were some bright spots throughout the game.”
QUICK RETURN
New Castle’s last WPIAL football championship appearance came in 1998 when the squad beat North Allegheny, 14-7, at Three Rivers Stadium. So, it took the ‘Canes nearly two decades to get back to the title game.
Cowart hopes it doesn’t take that much longer for the next appearance — and championship.
“We’ll take this as a steppingstone to move forward with our program and turn the page as we head into the offseason,” he said. “Now, our kids know what it means to get here and how hard it is to get here. We are certainly looking forward to trying to take that next step to raising a trophy.”
NEW CASTLE’S SENIORS
The ‘Canes lose 13 players to graduation — Nick Conti, Ryan Cooper, Giovanni Eggleston, Jake Evans, Garrett Farah, Tyrese Fish, Earl Gravatt, Shamar Hall, Jaylon Lane, Dealamar Matthews, Marshane McElroy, Geno Stone and Kymani Summers.
“The moment about being here and how proud I am to be here with those guys. Tears were streaming down my face rolling up to this place, just about how proud I am of the young men that got us here and what they sacrificed to get us here,” Cowart said. “Knowing how underestimated we were are as a group, I’m proud of the young men that got us here. Those guys have a left a mark on this program that will never be forgotten. We hope that mark is forever stamped on those kids that are coming up.
“We’re disappointed in tonight. But not disappointed in the overall process and what these guys did.”
RUNNING GAME
Cowart switched junior Marcus Hooker into the backfield in the regular-season finale against Blackhawk. Hooker made the move pay dividends, as he compiled 124 rushing yards against the Cougars, 238 against South Fayette and 178 last week against Ringgold.
Hooker was limited to 19 rushing yards on 12 carries against Thomas Jefferson. He had six totes in each half.
“That’s who we are. We’re not going to abort what we did that got us here,” Cowart said. “We’re not going to scrap what we do. We had a firm belief that what we do is good enough to get us here and be here on this field. We’re not going to go away from it. We don’t want to abort who we are in the biggest moments of games because that’s what got us here.
“Marcus has another year to prove he’s the baddest dude around and I have a belief that he will. We’re excited about that.”
A LITTLE LATE
The New Castle-Thomas Jefferson game was slated for a 5 p.m. kickoff. But the Class 5A championship game between West Allegheny and McKeesport went to overtime, with the Indians claiming a 38-37 decision.
West Allegheny and New Castle are former members of the Parkway Conference. The WPIAL realigned after last season, moving the schools into separate classifications.
HISTORY LESSON
New Castle has reached the WPIAL playoffs nine times since that district championship win in 1998. The ‘Canes are 6-9 in those nine postseason berths. Two of those wins came this year. Cowart’s playoff record as the team’s coach is 2-4.
(Email: ncsports@ncnewsonline.com)
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