CARTER CLIMBS SAUGUS SENIOR IS A TOP THREAT.Byline: Kevin Flavin flavin: see coenzyme. flavin Any of a class of organic compounds, pale yellow biological pigments that fluoresce green. They occur in compounds essential to life as coenzymes in metabolism. Staff Writer When he was in junior high school and a ball boy for the Saugus football team, Tim Carter Tim Carter may refer to:
``I used to watch my brother play every Friday night,'' Carter said. ``I always wanted to play.'' Five years later, Carter is a senior at Saugus and his opportunity has finally landed. Starting on offense and defense, Carter has become one of Saugus' top players this season. Offensively, he leads the team in scoring and has become the Centurions' top receiver. Defensively, he has made the move from cornerback cor·ner·back also corner back n. Football Either of two defensive halfbacks stationed a short distance behind the linebackers and relatively near the sidelines. Noun 1. to safety and has helped Saugus maintain one of the top defenses in the region. ``We move him wherever we think we can get him the ball,'' Saugus head coach Ron Hilton said. Carter began playing varsity last season. He started at cornerback and had three interceptions in seven games. Hilton said Carter was an All-Foothill League candidate and potential All-Southern Section candidate before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Burbank. He tore the medial collateral ligament The medial collateral ligament or MCL (or tibial collateral ligament) is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial or inner side of the joint. and the meniscus meniscus /me·nis·cus/ (me-nis´kus) pl. menis´ci [L.] something of crescent shape, as the concave or convex surface of a column of liquid in a pipet or buret, or a crescent-shaped cartilage in the knee joint. in his knee, an injury that kept him out of Saugus' run in the postseason. ``I missed the whole playoffs,'' said Carter. ``I was all emotional.'' Carter said the injury has become his motivation this season. He spent a lot of time in the gym this summer with sophomore quarterback Chris Ahlheim working to rehabilitate re·ha·bil·i·tate v. 1. To restore to good health or useful life, as through therapy and education. 2. To restore to good condition, operation, or capacity. . He said he is stronger now than he was before the injury. ``I got faster,'' he said. ``I'm looser since the surgery. My knee feels lighter.'' Hilton has noticed a difference, too. He said the extra weight Carter put on during the summer has allowed him to come back stronger for his senior season. At 5-foot-9, Carter isn't a large target, but he said he is often left open because teams overlook Saugus' slot receivers. It hasn't taken Saugus' young quarterback long to figure out where to find Carter, either. The two have already hooked up for 22 passes, 269 yards and three touchdowns this year. ``I'm just trying to catch as many balls as I can,'' said Carter, who added he has some big shoes to fill on offense. ``We had David Parker David Parker is the name of:
This season, Carter has been thrust into the role of playmaker play·mak·er n. A player in a sport with goals, such as a guard in basketball, who initiates offensive plays. play . In last week's 10-9 loss to Quartz Hill, he had six catches for 84 yards. His fourth-quarter, 32-yard touchdown reception brought Saugus to within a point of the Rebels. Hilton said the catch was a typical Carter reception - a 12-yard pass followed by a 20-yard run, making a lot of moves to elude e·lude tr.v. e·lud·ed, e·lud·ing, e·ludes 1. To evade or escape from, as by daring, cleverness, or skill: The suspect continues to elude the police. 2. defenders and break tackles on his way to the end zone. ``Tim's not really a deep threat,'' Hilton said, ``but he's very elusive after he gets the football. He can put points on the board.'' Saugus' 1-3 start this season isn't worrying Carter. He remains confident in the team and thinks the slow start might even help the Centurions, causing other teams to overlook them. ``We're better than last year's team,'' Carter said. ``We're just not playing with any emotion right now.'' Carter will be a key to providing that emotion and turning Saugus' season around. He said the Centurions can't take anything for granted anymore, particularly tonight's 7:30 game against Monroe at College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. . ``We have to win this right now,'' he said. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Saugus High receiver Tim Carter has ascended from the rank of Centurions ball boy while in junior high school to the team's top offensive and defensive weapon in his senior year. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer |
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