Quatman Provides Versatile Weapon for LCC

Sept. 10 — LIMA — Besides returning a kick for a touchdown or passing for one, Lima Central Catholic’s Matthew Quatman scored the ball in almost every way possible Saturday.

Quatman, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound Swiss Army knife who lines up all over the field, ran for two touchdowns, caught another and threw an interception against Carey.

It seems like he never leaves the field, because after every time he scores, he also scores the extra point.

Quatman’s performance with four touchdowns and 196 all-purpose yards against Carey was something LCC coach Scott Palte said his leader set the tone for early in the week.

“He put everything on his shoulders all week to make sure we practiced and played hard,” Palte said. “He came in (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 from your senior captain.”

Quatman was the right player in the right position at the right time in the LCC’s second win.

His first touchdown of the evening illustrates this statement.

On the scoresheet, it looked like an ordinary 20-yard touchdown reception, something impressive but relatively unspectacular.

The All-State receiver actually caught the ball in the back of the end zone after Brady Parker overthrew Lausen Flores, who tossed it back to Quatman, prompting oohs and ahhs from the crowd.

“I thought Brady was throwing me the ball and I was going to get it,” Quatman said. “Then I saw Lausen come up and get his hands on it. I rushed for the ball, and I guess sometimes rushing pays off.”

It was the right place at the right time, and it wasn’t the last time on Saturday.

On Carey’s first play from the 100 yard line of the second quarter, Quatman jumped on a route he had scouted earlier in the game, intercepted the pass and returned it for a touchdown.

“They did the same thing on the first play of the game,” Quatman said. “So I tried to jump on the ball, and our coaches criticized me for betting on that. The next time (they did the same thing), I saw the quarterback looking over and I knew it was coming, so I pushed a guy into the ball, caught it and scored.”

Palte added: “Matthew said they used that play on him once before, and he wasn’t happy about it. He told me if they used that play again, he would have intercepted it. He didn’t lie to me. He was right on target and he made a hell of a play.”

His two rushing touchdowns were more of the expected type, especially since he had 24 carries for 176 yards in the win, including touchdowns of 44 yards and 7 yards.

Both of those things are a result of his side-to-side, shortcut-filled running style. For a small back like Quatman, it’s all about getting around trees.

“I really try to find the open space,” he said. “Our blockers get in people’s way, so you have to avoid them. I’m not 240 pounds, so I can’t just run people over.”

“People tell me I’m an elusive full-back. I’ve been playing football for a long time and I’ve never really been the biggest kid, so anyway I can make a play, I have to make it.”

To date, Quatman has rushed for 333 yards on 59 carries with three rushing touchdowns, three receptions for 89 yards and a receiving touchdown, four PATs made, 14 total tackles, one sack and one interception.

After starting the season with a loss to Shawnee, LCC 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 comes through for us.”

LCC (2-1) makes its official return to the Northwest Conference on Friday against Allen East (2-1).

Contact Chris Howell at 567-242-0468 or on Twitter/X at @Lima_Howell