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THE WEEK IN SPORTS Sports Section Pages 1316 Check it out on the Web! WWW. goleader. com

FRESHH2O FLOWS FOR 2 TDS; SCHILLER PASSES 1, RUNS 1

Raiders Strike Fast, Trample Farmer Footballers, 3414 By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

True spirit and pride emerged from the Scotch PlainsFanwood High School football team on Thanksgiving Day. And that attitude combined with their proven versatility and skill earned the Raiders a 3414 trampling of the hosting Union Farmers.

Actually the Raiders made a double killing. First, after losing a heartbreaker in the final 50 seconds to ninthranked West Morris just five days before in the semifinals of the North Jersey (NJ), Section 2, Group

3 tournament, the Raiders rebounded magnificently to gain a big win in their season’s final game. Secondly, the Raiders made it twoinarow over the Farmers.

“We were devastated. We had kids crying in the bus and crying during the films on Monday,” said Raider Head Coach Steve Ciccotelli of his team’s reaction to their loss against West Morris. “We had to put it aside and say it’s over. Let’s go play. And that is the character of this team. You had to be around all year to sense it, to smell it and to see that this group

of kids was special.” Last year the Raiders rebounded from a disappointing 142 loss to Rahway in the NJ, Section 2, Group 3 tournament at Kean University to topple, for perhaps the first time in their history, the then 17thranked Farmers, 2713. The offensive heroes in that game were standout Nathan Jones, who plowed for 169 yards and three touchdowns, and Gary Cousar, who had a 59yard touchdown interception.

Last year, the huge Raider line

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Powder Puff Game Assumes Posture of Presidential Race

By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

NOTE: The Powder Puff game is done in good clean fun and so is this story as it has been for the past four years. The parallel drawn is merely a dramatization.

It’s over thought the seniors. Not yet! It’s over now. Not yet! Oh, it’s a tie and we must go into overtime. Who is going to win?

This was the scenario when the Westfield High School senior girls battled to a 1212, overtime tie with the juniors in the annual Powder Puff game at Gary Kehler Stadium in Westfield on November 22. What initially seemed to be a lock for the seniors – projected winners – became frozen in time while the juniors, after scoring a fourth quarter touchdown, came back again and were judged to have scored just as regulation time ran out.

The Powder Puff game could be eerily paralleled to the ongoing presidential race. One side got a big jump and, as the final 1: 30 in regulation seemed to last five minutes, the other side edged back to gain a tie in the nick of time to force the overtime.

Both scenarios had their degree of heavy hitting; however, unlike the election situation, the Powder Puff

game was played in the athletic arena of spirit and good “clean” fun and the hitting was actually part of the game and not done with malice.

A spirited junior offense ruled nearly the entire first quarter, but the veteran seniors dug in and denied them the endzone. Defensive persons Nikki Herttua, Chrissy Schwebel

and Melissa Fry were the most aggressive senior flag grabbers. Tara Dowling and Jenny Hayes alternated the quarterbacking for the juniors and initially handed off to fleetfooted Morgan Lang, who chewed up huge clumps of turf but not without taking some vicious hits.

COLOR PAGES

For approximately four weeks, the front page of sports and the back page in the A& E Section of The Westfield Leader and The Times will most likely not have color. Our printing company is in the process of purchasing a new machine and certain adjustments are being made. However, all of the pictures can be seen in color on our Web site. WWW. goleader. com.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

COACH BREZNITSKY BOOSTS RECORD TO 42610828

Raider Soccer Boys Complete Successful, 2222, Season By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Another successful season went into the books for the Scotch PlainsFanwood High School boys soccer team. The Raiders outscored their opponents, 658, and finished with a 2222 record which was highlighted by a 00 tie with No 1 ranked St. Benedict’s Prep. Head Coach Tom Breznitsky’s career record rose to an astounding 42610828.

“The 65 goals was the least amount of goals scored by any (SPF) team which finished with 20 or more victories,” pointed out Breznitsky.

Once again, for the seventh time during his tenure, Breznitsky’s Raiders won the Union County championship by shutting out A. L. Johnson, 20. Additionally, the Raiders captured their 15thstraight Watchung Conference title.

Probably the best goalkeeper in the state, if not one of the finest in the nation, senior Brad Lowyns broke two SPF records. Lowyns’ career shutout total of 43 eclipsed the 40 amassed by standout Jeff

Gillie (1997) – now at Princeton University – and his 19 shutouts this season topped the 17 set by Pat Acipink in 1987.

“Brad, without a doubt, was the most outstanding goalkeeper I have ever had,” stated Breznitsky. “He has the quality to develop into a great

college goalie and the potential to play on the professional level. With him at goal, all we needed was one goal to get by.”

Senior Mike Zotti led his team in scoring with 25 goals and in assists with 13. His fouryear varsity total of 60 goals placed him second on the alltime SPF list behind Leno DiCuollo (198487) who totaled 105.

“He had a tremendous career. He was a one in a lifetime player, especially with his athleticism,” expressed Breznitsky. “He was the finest athlete in my 26 years. His tenaciousness, his vertical leap and never give up attitude was second to none. He left everything he had on the field.”

However, it takes more than great two players to make a great team and the Raiders had many. Seniors Andrew Babicz, Mike Franzone, Dave Sigmon, Dave Bell and Brett Bushinger have been playing with the varsity the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

MROZ RUSHES 112 YDS FOR 2 TDS, MAKES 11 TACKLES

Blue Devils Win a Wild One; Thrash the Cardinals, 4225

By BRUCE JOHNSON

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

When you have ancient rivals meeting for the 96th time in a series that dates back to 1900, just about anything can happen. When it’s WestfieldPlainfield, throw out the wonloss records and see what happens.

This is a series where twice the final score has been a World Seriesish 32 — Plainfield winning in 1923, Westfield in 1979. And of the seven ties, six have been scoreless, including 1985 (Ed Tranchina’s first year as WHS coach) and 1993.

So, what happened this year, when the two teams met in their respective season’s finale? By halftime, they

had combined for 53 points, just two less than the record 55 both teams combined for in 1970! When the frost had thawed at chilly Hub Stine Field, the Blue Devils had held on for a wild 4225 victory, finishing off a 64 season. The Cardinals fell to 46.

For the Blue Devils, who now lead the series 48417, it was their best offensive showing of the year as they piled up 25 first downs and ran for 331 yards. And the defense, shredded in the first half, put up a secondhalf shutout.

“Twenty five first downs, wow, that tells it all,” Tranchina said.

There were many heroes for Westfield. Jim McKeon had a couple of key defensive plays, including an interception that turned the tide early in the fourth period. And Matt Daly rumbled for 77 yards and two scores. Ryan MacDonald had another steady game at quarterback, throwing two scores and hitting six of nine passes. The offensive line of TE Jim Mitchell, tackles Chris Dodge, Chris MacKay and Matt Seagull (filling in when MacKay was injured), guards Dave King and Paul Johnston and steady center Tim Young opened gaping holes

all day. And middle linebacker Matt Andzell had another monster game.

But, as has been the case most of the year, it was Mike Mroz who time and again delivered the big play.

“That No. 22, Mmmrose, he’s amazing,” said PHS public address announcer Martin Cox. “He’s everywhere. Scoring touchdowns. Making tackles. Returning kicks.”

Mroz capped an excellent senior year with 112 yards rushing on 12 carries, with two TDs, two pass receptions for another 19 yards, and a teamhigh 11 tackles.

“Mike’s been unbelievable,” Tranchina said. “He’s a gutty kid.”

Things didn’t start well for WHS as MacDonald and Mroz missed connections on a handoff on the game’s third play, and Plainfield’s Kevin Wright picked it up and raced 47 yards for the touchdown.

But Westfield showed its game plan on the next drive, going 70 yards in six plays. Daly had an 11yard run, Terrence Jenkins went for 18, Diano Reavis for 11, MacDonald hit Daly for 13 and, after a 2yard run by Reavis, Daly went up the middle for a

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 David B. Corbin for The Leader and The Times Raider senior Mike Zotti

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times SENIOR BREAD AND BUTTER PLAYER… Senior Patti Oslislo, with the football, scored two touchdowns and rushed for more than 100 yards in the Annual Powder Puff Game.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times EXECUTING THE RAIDER OFFENSIVE MACHINE… Raider quarterback Brian Schiller, No. 15, hands off to Clifton Freshwater, No. 21, as fullback Gary Cousar, No. 5, heads forward to make a block.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times STUFFING CARDINALS LIKE TURKEYS… A mob of Blue Devils stuff a Cardinal halfback like a Thanksgiving turkey at Hub Stine Field in Plainfield. Westfield defeated Plainfield, 4225.