The Westfield Leader Newspaper
The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK

THE WEEK IN SPORTS Check it out on the Web site! www. goleader. com Sports Section Pages 1518

JENKINS RUSHES FOR 2 TD’S; ‘MAC’ PASSES FOR 1

Blue Devil Footballers Win Opener Over Cougars, 216

By BRUCE JOHNSON

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

It was opening night so nobody expected perfection. And Westfield’s 216 victory over Cranford Friday night before a decent crowd at Union was not perfect, but it was a win.

Sloppy tackling and too many penalties were the main culprits, and senior quarterback Ryan MacDonald suffered a severely sprained ankle in the game’s final moments, but there were also bright spots.

Junior Terrence Jenkins was solid, picking up 74 yards on just nine

carries, and scoring two touchdowns on short runs of 3 and 8 yards (getting a super block from pulling guard Dave King on the latter). And classmate Matt Andzell, in his first start at inside linebacker, was all over the field, contributing 13 tackles to lead a defense that limited Cranford to 136 yards of total offense.

“It was not pretty,” coach Ed Tranchina said, “but it is a win, and we’re 10.”

Left unsaid was that the Blue Devils will have to play much better Saturday, when Bucky McDonald

brings his usuallytough Linden team to Kehler Stadium. The Tigers have been a jinx team for the Blue Devils lately, winning last year’s game 60 on a late 94yard touchdown run by Andre Sumner. The 5foot10, 215pounder finished last year with 1,260 yards and is the latest in a long line of outstanding power/ speed backs for McDonald.

And WHS will likely have to play without MacDonald, who suffered his ankle injury in a freak fall during an onsides kick by Cranford with three minutes left in the game. Nobody hit MacDonald, who simply fell as he chased the loose ball. Hopefully, the 62, 175pounder will be recovered in time to face Scotch PlainsFanwood a week from Saturday. In his place, either Louis Mercer or Brian Butts, both juniors, will get the call. Mercer finished up against Cranford.

The Blue Devils broke through early in the second period, on their third possession of the game. They marched 62 yards in eight plays, with Jenkins ripping off gains of 22 and 12 yards before going the final 3. Guards King and Paul Johnston, tackle Chris MacKay and tight end Jim Mitchell provided big blocks. A low snap on the PAT kick resulted in Mitchell being sacked before he could get off a pass.

After forcing another Cranford punt, the Devils got a big break. Jay Cook’s punt was fumbled by Chaz Curtis and Mitchell recovered at the WHS 39. Tranchina went to the air and MacDonald found Cook for 23,

Blue Devils Expect Fine Season With New Faces

By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

With the exception of two faces, this year’s Westfield High School starting varsity Field Hockey team will be sporting a new look. The good news is that these new faces were members of the junior varsity team which placed second in the Union County Tournament (UCT) last year.

Last year, the Blue Devils were led by AllUnion County, AllArea

standouts Paige Corbett, Kristen Leonardis and Jen Woodbury. Corbett and Leonardis reeked havoc offensively and Woodbury was extremely stingy at goalkeeper. The result was a 1441 record and a secondplace finish – falling 21 in overtime to Oak Knoll – in the UCT.

Last year “we were pretty strong and aggressive overall,” commented Head Coach Maggie McFadden. “We scored a lot of goals last year and our defense was excellent.”

This year, there are 18 girls on the varsity and junior midfielder Caitlin MacDonald and forward CoCaptain Katy Onishi happen to be the two returning starters from last year. Midfielder Denise O’Connor also had quite a bit of starting time last year.

Other possible defensive starters are seniors Francesca Chabrier, Sarah Beth Euwer and Katie Schott and junior Lauren Solon. Jill Veltri and Marisa Anthony will also see some starting time.

Offensively senior CoCaptain Julie Phelan, seniors Lisa Krieger, Erin Gibbons and Kate Trimble, juniors Rachel Wagner, Catherine Hild and Sarah Round will also be occupying the forward positions.

“All of these girls will be rotating in and out, and hopefully will put the ball in the goal,” said McFadden. “The girls are speedy. It’s just recognizing the transition.”

STEVE WILLIAMS, LARKIN HOOKUP WITH SCHILLER

Bulldogs’ Momentum in 3rd Staggers Raiders, 2814 By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Failure to capitalize on a possible momentum change may have cost the Scotch PlainsFanwood High School football team a victory on the opening game against Malcolm X. Shabazz at Untermann Field in Newark on September 8. Instead, Raider miscues allowed the Bulldogs to rumble to three touchdowns in the final 4: 24 of the third quarter and hold on to win, 2814.

The Raiders were unable to move the ball at all on the ground in the first half, being held to just one yard total rushing and had some success in the air with junior quarterback Brian Schiller connecting with junior wide receiver Steve Williams and halfback Clifton Freshwater.

“We are very young up front and it takes a while to get it going,” said Head Coach Steve Ciccotelli of his offensive line. “But I saw some good things with them and they played hard all night.”

Keeping the Raiders in the game during the first half was the Raiders’ stingy defensive line spearheaded by sophomores Matt Loomis and Chris Feighner, who both made several crushing tackles. Wesley Warchol and Kyle Adams also made their

presence known and senior punter Anthony Blasi had two fine boots of 34 and 40 yards during the half. On one of Blasi’s punts, Adams blasted the Bulldog return man for no gain.

In fact, early in the second quarter, Freshwater blocked a Bulldog punt on the Raider 47yard line and started what some would have believed to be a Raider march toward the goal. Schiller hit Steve Williams over the middle for 24 yards then followed up with a sixyard hookup with Freshwater. Unfortunately, an incomplete pass, a stuffed rushing attempt and an endaround run which resulted in a 10yard loss halted the drive.

Shabazz responded with a 58yard scamper from Amir Pinnix. Then with 8: 13 left in the half, Charles Burnett blazed in from the six and the kick was good, giving the Bulldogs a 70 lead which stood until the half.

Early in the third quarter, momentum shifted the Raiders way when Adams received a punt on the 36 ad returned it 40 yards to the Bulldog 24. Moments later, on third an seven, Schiller rolled left and over the sideline first down marker. Fullback Gary Cousar smashed forward for an eightyard gain, then two plays later with 6: 40 left in the quarter, Schiller hooked up with Cousar for an eight yard touchdown. Senior Doug Gillie’s

PAT knotted the score at 77. The Raiders’ defense was clicking and the momentum really seemed to be with them when Steve Williams intercepted on the Bulldog 40 and returned it to the 18. But, the ball was fumbled and recovered by the Bulldogs. On the very next play, Burnett burned the turf for 82 yards to give the Bulldogs a 137 lead with 4: 24 left in the third. The kick failed.

Shortly afterwards a Raider drive fizzled but Blasi booted another fine 38yard punt to put the ball on the Bulldog 21. Two plays later, from the 28, Burnett broke loose for a 72yard touchdown. With one minute left, the twopoint conversion upped the lead to 217.

Within 30 seconds, a Schiller fumble resulted in a 49yard fumble return for a touchdown. The extra point elevated the lead to 2814.

“Except for that lapse, we were right in the game,” pointed out Ciccotelli.

Early in the fourth, Schiller hit Dave Larkin 12 yards over the middle. Larkin found an opening and turned the play into a 59yard gain which ended at the 14. The Raiders pushed to the onefoot line, then Freshwater

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

LAUREN CARAVELLO, BROWN NAMED COCAPTAINS

Blue Devil Gymnasts Stress Unity and Cohesiveness

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

First year Head Coach Melissa Greenwald, a 1988 Westfield High School (WHS) graduate, has inherited a WHS gymnastics team that finished with a perfect 130 season, captured its sixthstraight Union County title and secondstraight North 2 title and placed second in the state last year. This year, with nearly the entire team returning, the outlook looks very promising.

Juniors Lauren and Jessica Caravello, junior Christina Massa and sophomore Rachel Skolnick made up four of the topfive girls who propelled the Blue Devils to prominence. Only sophomore Ashley Flood, who did a spectacular job last year, has transferred but Greenwald has a fine replacement in freshman Christine Valla.

“Her flexibility and form is just amazing. She’s petite and her tumbling height is excellent,” said Greenwald of Valla. “What she is really going to bring to the team is her creativity on the beam.”

Last year, Lauren Caravello won her secondstraight state title on the uneven bars and finished second in the state in the allaround. Jessica was among the topthree at the North 2 tournament in the allaround, beam and the floor exercises and Massa and Skolnick both placed high in the vault.

“Rachel definitely brings strength to the vault,” pointed out Greenwald. “She has power and superior moves.”

Several of the girls compete for private clubs, but the Blue Devils have a roster of nearly 30 girls. Lauren Caravello and senior Megan Brown have been selected as team CoCaptains and bear the responsibility of keeping the team focused.

“I told all of the private club girls that we are one team. They will be helping out the nonclub girls,” said Greenwald. “And we definitely are stronger in the floor, the bars and the vault. And we have a lot of girls improving on the beam.”

The magnificent success of the Blue Devils in the past three years

has commanded attention and opened doors for the acquisition of some much needed equipment. Through fundraising and community support, the lady gymnasts finally got an official floor exercise mat and a higherquality springboard.

“The whole personality of the team has changed. We have a lot of freshCONTINUED

ON PAGE 17

men and there seems to be a lot of cohesiveness between teammates and coach, and coach and team,” said Greenwald. “There is a lot of spirit. As for the new mat, I used to tumble on the old wrestling mat and there is a night and day difference between them.”

More fundraisers are planned and

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17 David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times DEFENSE AGAINST OFFENSE… Members of the Westfield field hockey team practice their offensive and defensive skills during a preseason session.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times DEFINITELY ON THE BEAM… Blue Devil Rachel Skolnick goes through her routine on the balance beam.

Steven Krakauer for The Westfield Leader and The Times A REAL DEVIL OF A PILE… The Blue Devils, in white, show that the game of football is not for the faint of heart as they mix it up with the Cougars.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times SHIFTING MOMENTUM… Kyle Adams received a punt on the 36 and returned it 40 yards to the Bulldog 24 to set up the Raiders’ first touchdown midway through the third quarter.

David B. Corbin for The Leader and The Times SCHILLER PASSING… Raider quarterback Brian Schiller looks to pass to his right.

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