Standout senior quarterback can and does do it all for surprising Red Hurricanes
Tri-State Sports & News Service
Geno Stone is more Clark Kent than he is Superman.
Well, at least when he’s not on the football field.
After Stone’s coach saw his prized quarterback-safety run for five touchdowns and intercept three passes in a game that landed New Castle in the WPIAL championship for the first time in 18 years, he had this to say about Stone’s performance.
“It was otherworldly, to be honest with you. That’s what he does. We’ve seen it over and over again throughout the course of the year,” New Castle coach Joe Cowart said.
Stone hasn’t just been rock solid in his first year as New Castle’s starting quarterback — he started at wide receiver as a junior — he has made a boulder-like impact. He’ll now try to lead New Castle to its first WPIAL title since 1998 when the seventh-seeded Red Hurricanes (8-4) take on No. 1 Thomas Jefferson (11-0) in the Class 4A final today at Heinz Field. Thomas Jefferson won the 3A championship last season.
If an MVP was chosen based on the first two rounds of the WPIAL playoffs, Stone very well could be the winner. He threw for four touchdowns and rushed for two scores in a 51-43 upset of No. 2 South Fayette in the quarterfinals. Then came his five touchdown, three interception gem in a 38-17 semifinal victory against Ringgold. New Castle lost to both teams during the regular season.
“He’s so explosive, not just at quarterback, but he makes so many plays in the secondary with his run support and pass coverage,” Thomas Jefferson coach Bill Cherpak said. “He’s a great athlete who makes a lot of clutch plays.”
Stone (6 feet, 200 pounds) has proven to be one of the WPIAL’s top dual-threat quarterbacks. He has thrown for 1,429 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has rushed for 693 yards and has scored 18 touchdowns, scores that have come on runs, punt returns and interception returns. He leads the team with 10 interceptions. He’s also the punter. Colleges like him as a safety.
“If this isn’t a Power 5 football player, I don’t know anything about football,” Cowart said. “He’s flat out one of the best players in the state of Pennsylvania, if not the best. He’s that good.”
However, Stone does not own any offers from any Power 5 schools. In fact, his only Division I FBS offer is from Kent State. Penn State has shown a little interest. Stone owns a bunch of FCS offers, including several from Patriot and Ivy League schools. He has a 3.5 GPA.
Stone and his buddies — some of whom were on a sixth-grade team that won a championship — will try to help New Castle win its 12th WPIAL football title, but just its second in the past three decades. Since then, basketball has reigned supreme in the town. New Castle has won WPIAL titles three of the past five years. Stone is a starting guard for a Red Hurricanes squad that should be excellent 1986 In front of what was one of the largest crowds to watch a WPIAL title game, Gateway defeated North Hills, 7-6, at Three Rivers Stadium. A crowd estimated at more than 20,000 watched as Gateway knocked off a North Hills team that was ranked No. 1 in the country by USA Today. 1984 Beaver Falls won the WPIAL Class AA championship with a 14-13 victory against Riverside at New Castle. Quarterback Greg Frankhouser scored on a 2-yard run in the third quarter and Steve Filauri kicked what proved to be the winning extra point. It was the last time Beaver Falls won a WPIAL title. again this winter.
“This means a lot because football wasn’t the talk of the town anymore. We’re happy to bring that back. It’s a great feeling,” Stone said.
New Castle’s backfield also includes junior Marcus Hooker, who became the team’s feature back just a few weeks ago when he moved from wide receiver. Hooker, whose brother Malik is regarded as one of the best college safeties in the country at Ohio State, has been a workhorse who had 29 carries for 228 yards against South Fayette and 33 carries for 178 yards against Ringgold.
While playing for WPIAL football titles is new to these New Castle players, it has become commonplace for Thomas Jefferson, one of the premier programs in the WPIAL. The Jaguars are making their eighth trip to Heinz Field since 2003. They won titles in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2015. The names have changed over the years, but the motto “Tradition never graduates” has stuck.
“That’s one of the big keys,” Cherpak said. “Each team looks at it as being their year. Especially the seniors. Last year they were a part of a team. Now this is their team. They know they don’t get any prize for going there. If you go and don’t win, it’s useless. Just making it, we’re past that point. And they understand that.”
Thomas Jefferson has been absolutely dominant. The Jaguars have won all of their games by at least 21 points. They average 48.8 points per game and give up just 5.4. West Mifflin mustered only five first downs and 77 total yards in Thomas Jefferson’s 35-7 semifinal win. The Jaguars have balance offensively. Quinton Hill has run for 1,573 yards and 26 touchdowns. Bobby Kelley has thrown for 1,527 yards and 31 touchdowns. Virginia recruit Zane Zandier and Jon Muehlbauer are a terrific receiving tandem.
“They’re so well coached. And then you look at the type of players they have walking around the field. When you pair those things, you can do what TJ does, and that’s play for district titles and compete for state titles,” Cowart said.
The challenge is big, but New Castle is hoping its “Superman” can save the day one more time.