Player: Geno Stone Position: QB/WR/DB Height: 6' 0" Weight: 185 lb Academic: Senior School: New Castle

By Ron Poniewasz Jr.

New Castle News

New Castle High football coach Joe Cowart put his trust in Geno Stone to run the offense this season.

On Friday, Stone gave Cowart even more than he asked for.

Stone starred on both sides of the ball — at his defensive back position as well as at quarterback — in the Red Hurricane’s 26-13 WPIAL Class 4A Northwest Nine Conference win at Montour.

“I thought he played a great game,” New Castle coach Joe Cowart said. “He was locked in; we needed a big game and we certainly got one from him.

“He was the leader for us productivity-wise and that was great to see.”

Stone’s performance earned him the Lawrence County Athlete of the Week honor, an award sponsored by Washington Centre Physical Therapy and selected by the New Castle News sports staff.

Stone stood tall on defense, thwarting three Spartans drives with interceptions. He returned one of those errant aerials 80 yards for a touchdown. That interception return put New Castle (1-0 conference, 1-1 overall) up 26-0 in the third quarter.

“Geno just has a knack for being around the ball,” Cowart said. “There were moments in that game where he was just everywhere; he was playing sideline to sideline for us.

“When the ball is in the air, he has a tendency to be around it and make something good happen.”

Stone made eight tackles as well.

“One of Geno’s best attributes is understanding what’s happening around him,” Cowart said. “He has a high football IQ.”

Offensively, Stone rushed for 77 yards on 14 carries. He threw just four passes, but he completed two of them for 96 yards with a touchdown and an interception. His scoring pass covered 82 yards to Lorenzo Gardner.

Stone opened the scoring with a 23-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

“We asked him to do a little more in the run game this past week,” Cowart said. “He carried it more than he had in the opener (against Aliquippa).

“He had a nice touchdown run that got us the lead. He didn’t throw the ball much, but he was efficient. He has to be efficient for us to be what we want as a team.”

Stone leads the team in rushing with 79 yards on 22 carries this season. He ranks second in the county behind Neshannock’s Frank Antuono in passing with 262 yards. Stone is 9 of 30 through the air with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

“You have a tendency to take a big step up from your junior year to your senior year,” Cowart said. “He’s certainly stepped his game up to the next level and he has put the work in.

“Geno is a leader on our team. We count on him to be that guy. He’s definitely off to a good start this year.”

Stone earned some varsity starts under center as a sophomore and Cowart feels that experience is a key.

“He’s one of those guys that you trust that something good will happen when the ball is in hands,” Cowart said. “I think the few snaps he got as a sophomore under center will continue to help.”

(Email: rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com)