Almontaser's big plays spark Rosewood

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on October 11, 2014 11:25 PM

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aetzler@newsargus.com

Marquail Almontaser wanted more responsibilities on the football field.

Before the season began, the junior walked up to Rosewood head coach Robert Britt and made his request. Britt listened, and expanded Almontaser's role to include receiver and cornerback.

Friday evening was just an example of what Almontaser has been doing all season for the Eagles. He caught two touchdown passes to help propel Rosewood past Lakewood, 26-21, in a Carolina 1-A Conference game.

"We're tickled to death to have him," Britt said of Almontaser, who doubles as a soccer player. "He's somebody we know (who) can make plays for us and we try to get the ball in his hands as much as we can."

Almontaser's first big play was a 97-yard touchdown catch that tied the game at 14-14 in the fourth quarter. He knew had the corner beat on the line, and just needed to catch the ball from quarterback Cameron Helt.

"I knew I was open once I saw it up I was just saying 'please let me get to this ball,'" Almontaser said. "Once I did I knew I caught it and I was gone from there."

Helt knew Almontaser would get to the ball. The only time the sophomore ever overthrows his speedy wide receiver is "when he's not running hard enough."

Rosewood faced a 4th-and-11 on its own 34 on its next possession.

Almontaser didn't run deep this time, but caught a screen pass, instead. A Lakewood defender hit him for a short gain, but Almontaser spun out of the tackle, stayed on his feet and broke three more tackles on the way to the end zone.

"I just saw a guy in position so I did a spin," Almontaser said. "Then I saw another in the same position so I spun again, and I saw another guy so I just kept spinning. Got (to the end zone) somehow."

Rosewood's defense gave Almontaser a chance to make those big plays. After a shaky three quarters, the Eagles denied the Leopards a chance to make it a two-possession game with a goal-line stand after Britt pleaded for "four good plays."

Lakewood moved backwards, gave up the ball and caused the Eagles to lose three yards. That set up Almontaser's first touchdown.

"That was obviously the turning point in the game," Britt said. "Those guys I think they thought about all those extra reps (in the weight room), all the extra time and they really dug deep to make a play."

Then the Eagles forced a fumble and recovered it, giving Almontaser his second big play, which gave his team the lead for good. Almontaser had 137 yards receiving.

Rosewood's Mike Woodard, who scored on a 48-yard run in the second quarter, put the final nail in the coffin with a 30-yard touchdown run with just over a minute and a half remaining. He finished with 158 yards rushing.

"What was really pleasing was to be able to sustain that drive and work the ball down the field," Britt said. "That was one of the things I was most happy with in the game."

Almontaser's soccer coach Eddie Maldonado made it to the game just in time to see his starting midfielder make the big plays.

"There's a reason he's the only one allowed to play both (football and soccer)," Maldonado joked.

But then, Almontaser -- the soccer player at heart -- missed his third of three failed extra points. Maldonado could do nothing but grin.

"How about those two touchdowns?" he joked.

Surely, Britt didn't mind them.