Matthew Quatman, of Lima Central Catholic, turns the ball upfield against Carey on Saturday night.
Chris Howell | The Lima News
LIMA — Outside of returning a kick for a touchdown or passing one, Lima Central Catholic’s Matthew Quatman scored the ball in almost every way possible Saturday.
Quatman, a 5-10, 175-pound Swiss Army knife who lines up all over the field, ran for two touchdowns, caught another and had a pick-six against Carey.
It appears as if he never leaves the field, because after every time he scores, he also kicks the extra point.
Quatman’s four-touchdown performance with 196 all-purpose yards against Carey was something that LCC coach Scott Palte said his leader set the tone for at the beginning of the week.
“He put it on his shoulders all week to make sure we practiced and we played hard,” Palte said. “He came out (against Carey) and was the best football player on the field. He did a great job on both sides of the ball, and that’s what you expect your senior captain to do.”
Quatman was the right player who had himself in the right position at the right time in LCC’s second win.
His first touchdown of the night exemplified that statement.
In the box score, it looked like an ordinary 20-yard touchdown reception, something that’s impressive but relatively unspectacular.
The all-state receiver actually caught the ball in the back of the endzone after Brady Parker overthrew Lausen Flores, who tipped it back to Quatman, drawing oohs and ahhs from the crowd.
“I thought Brady was throwing the ball to me and that I just had to go get it,” Quatman said. “Then I saw Lausen go up and get his hands on it. I hustled to the ball, and I guess hustle pays off sometimes.”
It was the right place at the right time, and it wasn’t the last time on Saturday.
On Carey’s first play from scrimmage in the second quarter, Quatman jumped a route he recognized from earlier in the game, intercepted the pass and ran it back for a touchdown.
“They ran the same play on the first play of the game,” Quatman said. “I tried to jump it then, and our coaches got on me for gambling on it. The next time (they ran the same play), I saw the quarterback look over, and I knew it was coming, so I pushed a guy into the ball, caught it and scored.”
Palte added, “Matthew said they got that play on him once, and he wasn’t happy about it. He told me if they ran that play again, he was picking it off. He didn’t lie to me. He was dead on, and he made a heck of a play.”
His two rushing touchdowns were more of the expected variety, especially since he had 24 carries for 176 yards in the win, including 44-yard and 7-yard touchdowns.
Both were a product of his running style, which is sideline to sideline and full of cuts. For a smaller running back like Quatman, it’s all about getting around the trees.
“I really just try to find the open gap,” he said. “Our blockers, they get in the way of people, so you have to cut out of it. I’m not 240 pounds, so I can’t just run over people.
“People tell me I’m an elusive back. I’ve been playing football for a really long time, and I was never really the biggest kid, so anyway I can make a play, I have to do it.”
To date, Quatman has 333 yards on 59 carries with three rushing touchdowns, three catches for 89 yards and one receiving touchdown, four successful kicked PATs, 14 total tackles, one sack and an interception.
After opening the season with a loss to Shawnee, LCC has rebounded with back-to-back wins over Delphos St. John’s and Carey. Palte believes that improvement is due in large part to Quatman’s influence on the team.
“He knew we had to play better,” Palte said. “He’s our senior captain and a three-year starter with more experience than anyone on the team. He always delivers for us.”
LCC (2-1) makes its official return to the Northwest Conference on Friday against Allen East (2-1).
Reach Chris Howell at 567-242-0468 or on Twitter/X at @Lima_Howell
