Carter has fine character

He beat out Coldwater's Ross Homan, Bellaire's Nate Davis and Colerain's Tyler Moeller.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Of all the good things said about Copley running back Delone Carter this season, his coach is most proud of the praise that came from an opposing player's mother.
A day after her son's high school football career ended with Parma Normandy's 21-14 loss to Copley, Mary Becka wrote a letter to Copley coach Dan Boarman, complimenting Carter for his gracious behavior during the first-round playoff game.
Linebacker Bobby Becka was impressed with Carter's demeanor and informed his mother.
"Every time they made contact last night, whether Bobby made the tackle or missed it, Mr. Carter was always there to lend a helping hand up and to compliment him in some way," Mary Becka wrote in her letter, which Boarman shared with The Associated Press.
"That integrity at such a young age for someone with so much God given talent is rare and powerful. Delone Carter is a true star and I am grateful that my son had the opportunity to witness his humility and gentle strength."
Stellar combination
Combine those attributes with his stellar statistics and it's no wonder that a statewide media panel on Wednesday named Carter the winner of the Ohio AP's 19th annual Mr. Football award.
Including two playoff games, the 5-foot-10, 200-pound Carter carried 302 times for 2,788 yards and 47 touchdowns while leading his Akron-area school to a 9-3 season. He also had two receiving TDs among his 12 catches for 171 yards and returned five kickoffs for 174 yards.
"We couldn't get too many people to kick to him," Boarman said.
The coach said he has gotten a lot of positive feedback about players during his 16 years as Copley's head coach but Becka's letter was the first to describe "the integrity of a kid in such detail."
He said her assessment was accurate.
"I would dare you to walk the halls at this school and for anyone to say a bad word about Delone Carter -- teacher, parent, student," Boarman said. "He's a gentle, unassuming young man. As a coach you sometimes get blessed, you get lucky to have a kid like this. It's been a pleasure coaching this kid."
Becka said she had never written a letter like that before but wanted to let Boarman know how much she and her son admired his star player.
The effect
"I didn't even tell my son [about the letter] because I thought he'd make fun of me," she said. "I was very excited that that was what my son got out of the game. Instead of coming home and hanging his head, he said he had so much respect for Carter."
Carter will receive a plaque in the shape of Ohio for winning the Mr. Football award, the third AP postseason honor he has earned this year.
An 18-year-old senior who will continue his football career at Syracuse -- where he plans to study business -- Carter previously was named first-team All-Ohio and the Division II offensive player of the year.
Carter beat out Coldwater's Ross Homan, Bellaire's Nate Davis and Colerain's Tyler Moeller for the ultimate prize honoring the state's prep players.
He takes all the accolades in stride.
"If you want something you've got to work for it," said Carter, whose exercise regimen is designed to help him build stamina in his legs. After football practice, Carter, who also runs track for Copley, sprints 800, 400, 200 and 100 meter heats.
The running enables Carter to go all out on every play, his coach said.
"He takes no breaks," Boarman said. "Syracuse stole a kid out of Ohio. This kid is the best."