PAGE A12, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 5, 2021
KEIZERTIMES.COM
McCarty fi nally gets his
opportunity with McNary
KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlings
McNary midfi elder Nic Heath dribbles past a North Salem player in the Celtics 2-0 victory on
Monday, March 1.
Celts defeat North Salem in
fi rst COVID-19-era contest
BY MATT RAWLINGS
to play the game they love with
Of the Keizertimes
their friends and teammates.
“It feels like we're alive. Even
For an entire calendar year,
though you couldn't see their
McNary High School did not
faces through the
host a sporting
masks, the kids
event due to
were smiling
the COVID-19 “ Even though
and so joyous to
pandemic.
you couldn’t
be out there. It
However, that
see their faces
gave us a sense
streak fi nally
of normality,”
came to an end
through
the
McNary head
on Monday,
masks, the kids coach Miguel
March 1.
Camarena said.
Nic Heath
were smiling
“It's just nice
and Eddie
to be out here
Martinez each
and so joyous
with ev-
notched goals
to be out there.” playing
erybody,” Heath
in the fi rst half
as the McNary
— Miguel Camarena, added.
The Celtics
boys' soccer
McNary head coach
missed on a few
team took
opportunities
down North
to score in the
Salem by a
fi rst 15 minutes of the contest,
score of 2-0. But what was
more important to the kids was including whiffi ng on a point-
blank shot with the keeper out
not the fi nal score, it was that
they once again got the chance of position. But in the 18th
minute, McNary executed
a beautiful set-piece for the
fi rst goal of the season.
Manuel Avendano was
awarded a free-kick 40 yards
away from the net and sent a
high ball into the middle of
the box. Eli Petilo was able
to elevate over the crowd to
get the fi rst touch by heading
the ball to his right. Martinez
got in position to play the
touch, torqued his head as
he leapt in the air and sent a
header unto the upper left-
hand corner of the net for
the score.
“I saw the ball coming in
after Eli got a hit on it, so I
jumped and got the header
on it. It felt good to score the
fi rst goal,” Heath said.
North Salem, on the other
hand, didn't get their fi rst
shot-on-goal until the 22nd
Please see CELTS, Page A11
BY MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
At 5-foot-9, 175 lbs,
McNary quarterback Jack
McCarty isn’t going to wow
anyone with his physical
presence. But, despite his
stature, those that have seen
the arm talent of the senior
signal-caller know that Mc-
Carty can sling it with the
best of them.
“Jack has gotten more
and more athletic and his
arm strength is impressive.
He has great range down-
fi eld and throws the deep
ball with great touch, but he
can also throw a rifl e when
he needs to and he can
read a defense pretty well,”
McNary head coach Jeff
Auvinen said.
McCarty admitted that
being small gives him a chip
on his shoulder, but he also
believes that his lack of size
has helped him develop a
better competitive mentality.
“I really think being un-
dersized gives me an edge. I
have been one of the smaller his chance to shine in 2020.
kids ever since I was in third The COVID-19 pandemic,
grade, so I am used to trying however, had other plans.
“I’ve been training to be
to prove myself. If I were six
in this spot for a long time,
feet or over, I don’t know if
I would be as good. My size but when COVID came I
didn’t really
forces me to
know what
have to work
was going to
harder,” Mc-
“ I just wanted
happen,” Mc-
Carty said.
whatever we
Carty said.
Despite
With the
being a stand-
could get. As
season being
out on the
in limbo,
McNary JV
long as we are
McCarty
team, McCa-
getting full-
still wanted
rty has had
himself and
to wait in the
contact, actual
his squad to
wings behind
football, I will
be prepared,
Erik Barker
which is why
— a three-
take it.”
the quarter-
year starting
quarterback
— Jack McCarty, back started
McNary quarterback
organizing
for McNary
get-togethers
who signed to
at the fi eld
play with the
with his teammates.
University of Montana last
“When all this went
winter — for the last two
down he was organizing
years.
bringing kids to the fi eld
After the 2019 season
to do workouts and throw
ended, McCarty thought
routes. He took that on
that he would fi nally get
himself,” Auvinen said. “He
is the epitome of what we
like as a student-athlete. He
is a great kid, a great student
and a great leader.”
McCarty knows that
leadership is a natural quali-
ty of being a good quarter-
back, and he is embracing it
to the best of his ability.
“Being a leader is some-
thing I am defi nitely taking
pride in,” McCarty said. “I
was just trying to remain
optimistic and help get guys
prepared and ready to go.”
Even when the OSAA
announced in August
that the fall football
season would be delayed
Submitted
After being a backup for two seasons Jack McCarty is prepared
to take the reins at the Celtics starting quarterback.
Please see JACK, Page A10