Late field goal helps Mars survive New Castle's upset bid
ADAMS TWP — As Caleb Brake lined up for an 18-yard field goal on the final play of the game, he cleared his mind.
Of everything.
“Nothing,” Brake said of what he was thinking seconds before the snap and his 18-yard field goal that sent the Mars football team to a dramatic 17-14 win over New Castle in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs at the Mars Athletic Complex Friday night.
“I was trying to clear my mind of everything,” Brake added. “Just focus on the kick. Nothing else.”
Mars (9-1) had driven from its own 27 to the New Castle 1 on a 12-play drive in the waning minutes of what turned out to be a test of wills.
“We have faith in Caleb,” said Mars coach Scott Heinauer. “You know what, he came through. We tried to set him up in the middle, called timeout, let him go from there.”
Mars will square off against Ringgold in the second round of the playoffs next week.
It could be a big weekend for Brake, who will play for the Mars boys soccer team in the WPIAL Class AA championship match Saturday against South Fayette.
“It's just been a crazy season like that between football and soccer,” Brake said. “It's just been amazing.”
It was almost a disappointing start to the weekend for Brake and Mars.
The Planets moved the ball well, but struggled in the red zone.
Their first drive stalled after a holding penalty negated a run by Eli Brooks that would have set up a first-and-goal at the New Castle 1.
Brake missed a 37-yard field goal to end that drive.
New Castle took a 6-0 lead on a long 17-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 1-yard run by Nick Treloar.
Mars again misfired deep in Red Hurricane territory when Johnson threw an interception in the end zone on a halfback pass.
“We can't falter when we get down there, Heinauer said. “We need points. ... We made it difficult on ourselves.”Mars, though, responded at the end of the half after a 16-yard punt by New Castle.Nate Sablowski got behind the defense and hauled in a 27-yard pass from Sam Morrissey for a 7-6 Mars lead at halftime.The Planets then scored quickly on their first possession of the second half when Johnson burst up the middle for a 29-yard touchdown run and a 14-6 lead.Johnson finished with 141 yards on 26 carries.Johnson, who is listed at 6-foot and 180 pounds, runs a lot bigger than his size.“He's a physical kid,” Heinauer said. “It came down to playing physical football.”New Castle made sure it came down to a kicker thanks to a little perseverance after a rare penalty call.Geno Stone caught a pass and hurdled a Mars defender on the way to what would have been a 39-yard touchdown.But hurdling another player is a personal foul in high school football and it set New Castle back to a third-and-11.The Red Hurricane converted a first down on an 11-yard pass from Pat Minenok to Marcus Hooker and then scored later on another Minenok-to-Hooker connection, this one from the Mars 5.Minenok found Gio Eggleston in the end zone for the 2-point conversion to tie the score at 14-14 late in the third quarter.Perseverance is something New Castle is accustomed to this season after losing two game because of mass suspensions following a pre-game altercation with Central Valley in October.The Red Hurricane bounced back to win their final two games of the season to get into the playoffs and had Mars on the ropes.“I'm as proud as I can be of a group of young men,” said New Castle coach Joe Cowart. “That group of guys are going to impact a community. “We faced some adversity and its a true test of the character of men. How do you react when the chips are down? That team will always have a special place in my heart. I'll never forget how we bonded together. I just wish I could have continued this journey with them.”Neither team could mount much offense in the fourth quarter until the late Mars drive that led to the winning field goal.“The goal is to win,” Heinauer said. “Fortunately we won and we move on. That's all that really matters.”
