MHS quarterback Josh Carter to attend Springfield in the fall
By Ken Powers Community Reporter

Marlborough - After enjoying a senior season most high school quarterbacks can only dream about, Marlborough High senior Josh Carter had decided to continue his academic and athletic education at Springfield College.

"It seemed like the best fit for me overall," said Carter, who also listed Division 1-A Valparaiso and Division 2 Assumption College among his final choices. "On my visit everyone went out of their way to make me feel comfortable there, it's close to home and it's sports management program, which is what I want to major in, is among the best in the country."

Also appealing to the 6-foot-1, 185-pound, 18-yearold was the fact that Pride head coach Mike DeLong gave Carter hope that he could play for Springfield sooner rather than later.

"Coach DeLong told me the best players will play," Carter said. "He didn't say that I'd have to wait my turn or that there are other kids ahead of me.

"What that said to me is when I prove to them that I give the team the best chance of winning the game, he's going to put me in," Carte said. "Even if that's the first week of my freshman year. That's all I want - a chance to play. I'll do the rest."

Carter certainly did the rest last fall for the Panthers, leading them to five straight wins at one point in the season and a 7-4 overall record.

Arguably one of the best quarterbacks in Central Massachusetts, Carter accounted for 2,920 yards for Marlborough on off ense last season. He passed for 1,934 yards, completing 127 of 229 passes, 19 for touchdowns. Carter also, somehow, found time to rush for 986 yards and score 17 touchdowns.

In addition to his off ensive prowess, he also started in the defensive secondary for Panthers coach Sean Mahoney the last two seasons. In December he was named an All-State defensive back.

"The first couple of games I don't think he realized how good he could be," Mahoney said. "Off ensively. I think he gained a lot of confidence in Week 3 against Leominster. We lost that game but he was able to move the ball very efficiently against a very good team. After that he just amazed us - coaches, players and fans, week after week."

All of his statistical accomplishments notwithstanding, Carter's real talent was leading his team to last-second wins. He completed the feat four times in the final two minutes of games, three of those wins actually coming in the final minute of the game, one on the last play.

In Week 2, when the Panthers edged Gardner, 14-7, Carter led Marlborough to the game-winning score with 44 seconds left and finished the game with a combined rushing and passing total of 203 yards.

In Week 5 against Algonquin Regional, Carter rolled up a combined total of 305 yards and four touchdowns, the final score being a sixyard toss to Lane Garvey as time expired for a 27-26 victory.

The Panthers defeated Burncoat in Week 6, 20-14, Carter rushing for the gamewinning TD with 19 seconds to play. In Week 7, against Milford in a game that took two days to complete because of a light failure, Carter score don a two-year quarterback sneak with two minutes to play as the Panthers pulled out a 25-22 win.

In the final game of his high school career, against Hudson on Thanksgiving - a 42-28 Marlborough win, Carter passed for three touchdowns and rushed for three others.