Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 8, 2005 Crater�s Charlie Reina, who started last Friday�s game at slotback on offense, moved to tailback when Callan Hartzer suffered a bruised sternum on the game�s first play from scrimmage. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Reina stars for Crater in opener Senior takes over at tailback and rushes for 123 yards during the Comets’ 30-19 win over Marshfield By DON HUNT Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — Charlie Reina was a busy man last Friday night at Pete Susick Stadium in Coos Bay. The Crater High junior rushed for 123 yards on 14 carries, caught one pass for 57 yards, ran back punts and kickoffs and played a stellar game on defense from his free safety position. The Comets had several candidates worthy of MVP honors during their season-opening 30-19 victory over Marshfield. But no one contributed as much as Reina, who rarely left the field. "He’s a playmaker on offense and an impact player on defense," Crater head coach John Beck says of the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Reina. "We knew he was ready to have a good season and he’s off to a great start." Reina, who started the game at slotback on offense, moved to tailback when Callan Hartzer suffered a bruised sternum on the game’s first play from scrimmage. Advertisement Reina had been getting some practice time at tailback, but Friday marked his first game action at the position since middle school. "We’re using a zone blocking scheme and so it’s been an adjustment running the ball," Reina says. "I was getting ahead of my blockers at first. You need to be patient and wait for things to develop in this offense. It took me awhile to do that." Once he did, Reina slashed and dashed his way for some big gainers and went over the 100-yard mark in the fourth quarter. "We gave Charlie some reps at tailback when we went to the Willamette camp this summer," says Crater wide receiver coach David Douglas. "With his ability, we thought we needed to get him more touches than what he was getting at slotback. "Plus, we’ll go with both Callan (Hartzer) and Charlie in our two-back set. We’re a more versatile team that way." Reina benefited from several bulldozer blocks Friday from Crater’s offensive line. On one play, senior tight end Cody Clark cleared a path that Reina squirted through for a 63-yard gallop. "It’s a play we call ‘33 lead,’" Reina says. "We’d run it once earlier for a 10-yard gain. Cody kept bugging everyone in the huddle to run it again and we finally did." Reina also used his receiving skills to snag a 57-yard pass that set up a field goal in the first quarter. But as impressive as Reina was on offense, he might have been more imposing on defense. He deflected two passes and was in on 10 tackles, including a couple of bone-jarring hits on Marshfield running backs. "The kid can hit," Douglas says. "He put some licks on people." It might be too early to call the Comets — who collected their first season-opening victory since a 35-0 romp over South Medford in 1998 — a state playoff contender. But one thing is certain: they’re far superior to last season, when they managed only one win. And Reina, who is 10 pounds heavier and considerably stronger than he was in 2004, is a big reason why. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail Reina stars for Crater in opener ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Casinos Canada dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s