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By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
New Utrecht coach Alan Balkan said he considered having junior starting quarterback Angelo Carrera and receiver Richard Wright split time under center after Carrera threw two interceptions early in their season opening game.
But in the end, Balkan was glad he kept them in their regular positions.
Carrera threw two touchdown passes to Wright in a 16–0 home win for New Utrecht over Canarsie last Friday afternoon. The gritty Carrera worked through a cut on the top of his throwing hand to complete 8 of 9 passes for 119 yards and also connected with Michael Vasquez for two two-point conversions.
“He came back and made it happen,” Wright said of Carrera.
The first score capped New Utrecht’s eight-play, 39-yard opening drive, which ended with Wright catching a slant in the right side of the end zone to help put the Utes up 8–0 with 3:49 left in the first quarter.
A resolute Canarsie defense kept New Utrecht at bay after that, including a goal line stand early in the third quarter. The Utes finally got some insurance on the final play of the third. Carrera was hit as he threw, but Wright came back on the ball. He made a leaping grab in the end zone over a shorter defender, Carasie’s Tristan Aubain, to help put New Utrecht (2–0) up 16–0.
Wright, who added a fourth quarter interception on defense, joked the he knew he had to catch it to not get in trouble with Balkan. It’s a difficult catch that he, his coach, and his quarterback all expect him to make.
“I have a lot of weapons, but I go to Rich a lot for the fade pass,” Carrera said.
The New Utrecht defense made it stand up. It kept Canarsie’s running game in check and the secondary was superb. Dayquan Russell had an interception and Vonn Grant added two pass deflections in key spots.
“The secondary I think is one of the best in the city,” Balkan said.
Canarsie coach Kyle Allen believes some of it has to do with is team coming out flat early. They got out of class at 2:30 p.m. and arrived right at the 3:45 p.m. start time. Allen sensed his team didn’t have energy in the early stages of the game and didn’t execute late.
“Once we got going we didn’t make the plays we needed to,” Allen said.
The Chiefs’ best chance to score came last in the third quarter. Ramshar Clarke couldn’t haul in an under-thrown pass that he likely could have turned up the right sideline. Canarsie (2–1) was moving the ball well again in the fourth quarter, but quarterback Antonio Snell was ejected for throwing a punch. He will also miss the next game by league rule.
“My quarterback lost his cool,” Allen said.
On the other side, New Utrecht hopes it is beginning to gain respect with its 2–0 start that included an impressive win over Kennedy last week. The Utes have a good chance to add another victory next week against a Susan Wagner team Canarsie has already beaten.
“Before, New Utrecht wasn’t on the map, but after this 2–0 win everyone will be talking Utrecht,” Wright said.