Published Saturday December 15, 2007 in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
St. Thomas' Carter makes his dad proud
By Dave Brousseau
dbrousseau@sun-sentinel.com
ORLANDO
Let the parallelism begin.
Junior wide receiver Duron Carter, son of former NFL great Cris Carter, had the biggest game of his young career at St. Thomas Aquinas.
Carter made only two catches in the Class 5A state championship against Kissimmee Osceola on Friday, but both were touchdowns. The second, a 51-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Ryan Becker with 5:37 to play, clinched the Raiders' fourth state title.
"It's great," Carter said. "Me and my dad talk a lot and he tells me to strive to be great and that's what I'm trying to do. To be like him."
It was hard for him to explain what happened on the Citrus Bowl turf, but Carter tried.
"It was my biggest game of the year and it happened to be at states as a team together," he said. "That last touchdown was very important."
Carter had 14 catches and three touchdowns this season before playing Osceola.
Comparing his performance to his father's career was simple.
"We try not to talk about it," Carter said. "I'm a separate person than my dad, but it's good to have him as a teacher. As much as he knows, he gives me."
Carter's other touchdown of 12 yards gave the Raiders a 21-7 lead in the second quarter.
O'Neill runs one back
The last time Conor O'Neill returned a kickoff for a touchdown, he was in the eighth grade.
He can't say that any longer. The junior defensive back returned a kickoff 73 yards for a touchdown, breaking a 7-7 tie in the first quarter.
Smith, Castle honored
Escambia High, University of Florida and Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith was named Player of the Century by the Florida High School Athletic Association, as part of its "100 Years of Florida High School Football" celebration. Lakeland High coach Bill Castle was named Coach of the Century. Castle has a 308-74 record and six state championships during his 32 years as Lakeland coach.
St. Thomas coach George Smith, who Castle has defeated in the state final three times, was the first to congratulate him.
"We have played so much over the years, we've become real good friends," Castle said. "He told me I really deserved it."
Copyright © 2007, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
