Carvers Bay's Linnen steps up after Scott's injury

Carvers Bay's quarterback Carlton Linnen has played a key role this year filling in for an injured Arlington Scott

By: By Justin Driggers | SCNOW
Published: November 28, 2008

Like so many of his Carvers Bay teammates, Carlton Linnen was asked to step up this season.

The only difference was Linnen’s call-up came during the middle of the season.

When Bears quarterback Arlington Scott suffered a season-ending knee injury Sept. 19 against Latta, Linnen was given the reins to Bears offense for the rest of the year.

But the 5-foot-11, 137-pound defensive back hadn’t played QB since his last year on the junior varsity squad.

And to make matters worse, the Bears’ first two games with Linnen calling the shots were against Hemingway and Lake View, two of the top teams in Class A.

“It was kind of a trial by fire,” Linnen said. “Facing Hemingway right off the bat was tough, but my teammates were there to back me up.”

Besides, Linnen added, the Bears’ offense is built so a new quarterback can come in and have success.

“I have Clayton (Geathers) and Davious (Chestnut) running the ball,” Linnen said laughing. “Basically, I just hand the ball off to them and they do most of the work.”

But while the running game will always be first and foremost in the Bears’ playbook, Linnen has done well when called upon. The senior has completed 28 of 53 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns.

“He might be small in size, but he has a big heart,” Carvers Bay coach Nate Thompson said. “He stayed in that Hemingway game when most players his size would have cringed.

“He’s actually emerged as one of our leaders on offense, and that’s something you want from your quarterback.”

One of the biggest transitions for Linnen was learning to play both of his positions. Linnen also is the Bears’ starting free safety.

“I wasn’t used to playing so much, so I got tired pretty quickly to begin with,” Linnen said. “But I got used to it after a while.”

After taking over as quarterback, the Bears lost two straight games and any shot at the Region 8-A title. But since then, Carvers Bay hasn’t lost, and finds itself playing for a state title for the third straight year.

“We really rallied around Carlton,” Geathers said. “We knew we had to step up and support him and he stepped up and supported us.

“Look where we are now.”