Carter carries load for Carlson in playoff win over New Boston Huron

GIBRALTAR – Omari Carter says nothing was handed to him when he arrived at Gibraltar Carlson this fall.

“No, I had to earn it,” said the transfer from St. Clair Shores South Lake.

Carter definitely earned his spot and now is getting the football handed to him a lot.

The senior carried the ball 32 times and also made a key pass reception, racked up 179 rushing yards and 210 total yards, scored three touchdowns and also played a key role on defense to help his team roll over New Boston Huron 38-14 in the opening round of the Division 3 state playoffs.

“We’ve been leaning on Omari a lot the last few weeks,” Carlson coach Jason Gendron said. “He’s not very big, but he runs hard and has a nice forward lean.”

And Carter leans on his line.

“It’s really my O-line,” he said.

Tight ends Jackson Zachary and Ben Przytula, tackles Adam Zurawski and Matt Hall, guards Xavier Hayes and Evan Bredow, and center Melvohn Martin cleared holes for Carter.

The chemistry between Carter and his teammates was instantly obvious.

“Changing schools was kind of weird, but they took me in like a brother,” Carter said.

The arrival of Carter helped Carlson transform its offense.

“That power football was just a package for us at the beginning of the year, but it has morphed into our identity,” Gendron said.

Carter opened the scoring with a 38-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

Huron answered early in the second period on a 34-yard pass from Gavin Moczydlowsky to Ethan Woolery.

Carlson responded on its next drive as Carter took a short pass from Eddie Light and sprinted 31 yards before getting bumped out of bounds at the Huron 1.

Carter scored on the next play, allowing the Marauders to take a 14-7 lead into halftime.

The Marauders went up by two scores early in the third period on a 4-yard TD run by Brendan Scheffler, but Huron got back into the game with its defense.

Defensive end Rory Callahan popped the ball loose on a sack and tackle, and Jesse Brown scooped it up and ran 33 yards for a touchdown.

Carlson’s lead had been sliced to 21-14 with 3:11 left in the third period.

The Marauders went back to their bread and butter to regain control. Carter raced 13 yards to open the next possession and wound up carrying a total of 8 times for 55 yards in a 79-yard scoring drive.

“There was no doubt who we were going to,” Gendron said.

Scheffler capped it with a 10-yard run.

A 34-yard field goal by Kyler Ostrowski, who also was perfect on five PATs, and a 3-yard TD run by Carter put an exclamation point on the playoff victory.

“Our offense gets a lot of credit, but this one was about our defense,” Gendron said. “Coach (Drew) Sweany and his defensive staff put together a great game plan.”

Timmy Simons led the defense with 12 tackles and Tristian Ivy had 8.

“They are good,” Huron coach Tom Hoover said. “They are tough and fast. … We just didn’t move the ball.”

Huron finishes Hoover’s first season as head coach with a 6-4 record.

“We came a long way,” he said.

But progress still must be made.

“We lose some great ones and get some good ones back,” Hoover said of next year’s roster. “We have to change some things and adapt.”

Carlson moves on to host a District championship game next week against Downriver League foe Trenton, which beat Southgate Anderson 34-27 Friday.

The Marauders dominated a regular-season meeting between the two teams 27-6.

First Quarter

C – Omari Carter 38 run (Kyle Ostrowski kick)

Second Quarter

H – Ethan Woolery 34 pass from Gavin Moczdlowsky (Anthony Gill kick)

C – Carter 1 run (Ostrowski kick)

Third Quarter

C – Brandon Scheffler 4 run (Ostrowski kick)

H – Jesse Brown 33 fumble recovery (Gill kick)

Fourth Quarter

C – Brandon Scheffler 10 run (Ostrowski kick)

C – Ostrowski 34 field goal

C – Brandon Scheffler 4 run (Ostrowski kick)

C – Carter 3 run (Ostrowski kick)

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Rushing: Omari Carter, C, 32-179; Izaiah Wright, C, 4-38; Gavin Moczdlowsky, H, 9-34; Timmy Simons, C, 6-30; Eddie Light, C, 4-25; Micah Smith, H, 7-24; Brandon Scheffler, C, 4-21.

Passing: Gavin Moczdlowsky, H, 4-13-68; Eddie Light, C, 3-8-65.

Receiving: Jackson Zachary, C, 1-38; Micah Smith, H, 3-34; Ethan Woolery, H,, 1-34; Omari Carter, C, 1-31.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Carter carries load for Carlson in playoff win over New Boston Huron