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THE WEEK IN SPORTS
MCCORMACK RUNS 49 YDS FOR TD, TURNER GRABS 8-YD TD PASS
Morristown Colonizes the Blue Devils; Settles Down With NJ 2, Group 3 Title
By DAVID B. CORBIN
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times
Three lost fumbles and a slick reverse on a punt return spelled disaster for the Westfield High School football team as they were “colonized” by the fourth-ranked and defending champion Morristown High School team, 37-14, in the North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 title game at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford on December 5. The pendulum of
momentum swung first in the Colonials’ direction, next in the Blue Devils direction, then finally back to the Colonials.
It could have been expected that there would be some slipping and sliding and perhaps some ball mishandling due to the wet artificial turf and that is exactly what did happen, especially in the first half. Although both teams had to cope with the situation, the initial damage happened at the expense of the Blue Devils in the first quarter.
Rob Oglivie of the Colonials received the opening kickoff on the 15 and returned it to the 38. Next, quarterback Stewart Winston rolled left and was knocked out of bounds at the Westfield 44 by Lamont Turner. Later on a fourth-and-two from the Devil 36, Winston kept and flew down the right side for the touchdown with 10:20 left in the first quarter. On a fake extra point attempt Oglivie rolled right and passed complete to Jon Rogers for the two-point conversion, giving the Colonials an 8-0 lead.
The kickoff was received by the Blue Devils on the 19 and returned down the left side, but Oglivie stripped the ball near the 40 and Morristown recovered it at the Westfield 45. Immediately, on first down, Winston dropped back and completed to Oglivie who was eventually stopped at the one-yard line by Turner. With 9:55 left in the quarter, Ahmad Hagler burst in for the touchdown. The extra point extended the Colonials’ lead to 15-0.
The misfortune was not over yet for the Blue Devils. After Turner received the kickoff at the 10 and returned it to the 31, the Blue Devils turned the ball over again when the ball was jarred loose on first down and recovered by Morristown on the 33. The Blue Devil defense came to life. Fine tackles by Matt Krug, Tom Lee and Todd Dowling eventually stopped the Colonials drive at the 15.
The Blue Devils made modest gains and eventually punted where the ball rolled dead at the Morristown 45. On first down, Hagler crashed through the middle and rolled 55 yards for the touchdown. With 4:05 remaining in the first quarter Matt
Osborne’s extra point was good and the lead stretched to 22-0.
The true test of a quality team has been in its ability to bounce back and the Blue Devils did, but not before one more setback. The Devils’ offense moved the ball from its own 10 to the 47 where Morristown recovered a Devil fumble. The Devil defense held tight and forced the Colonials to punt. The punt went out at the nine as the quarter ended.
On first down, Turner blasted to the 17, then Kevin McCormack sliced to the 20 for a first down. Dowling rumbled 31 yards to the Morristown 49, then McCormack slanted left and sailed into the endzone with 10:31 left in the half. Doerr’s extra point made the score 22-7.
“We needed someone to break it open and have someone step up,” commented McCormack about his touchdown run. “I was coming around the end and I had great pulling guards in Matt Krug and Willie Hannis. They threw good blocks and I got out into the open,” added McCormack.
The Devil defense hammered the Colonials on their next possession. A crushing tackle by Krug and Jason Merritt stopped the kickoff return at the 30. Maurice Boatwright slammed Dorell Humes to the turf at the 36, Dowling blitzed and sacked Winston
for a two-yard loss, then Marcus Thornton smothered Winston near the 20. A bad punt gave the Blue Devils possession at the Colonial 34.
The Devils missed a first down by an inch and Morristown took over, but strong punishing tackles by Krug, Thornton and Jon Greenstein forced a punt. The punt rolled out at the 14.
Turner took Doerr’s handoff and zipped 35 yards down the right sideline to the 49. Dowling plunged to the Morristown 48, then McCormack soared to the 30 where he was grabbed on his facemask. The penalty rested the ball at the 15. Doerr’s pass to Dowling was complete at the nine, then Turner bashed to the eight. On third down, Doerr rolled left and hit Turner at the three where he scratched and clawed his way over the goal. Doerr’s extra point tightened the score at 22-14 with :43 left in the half and the pendulum had swung in the Blue Devils’ direction.
“I caught the pass, then he (defender) tried to wrap me up high. I tried to whip out of it,” said Turner. “I knew that I was close to the goal line, so I figured that if I lunged, I would get there. And, I did.”
Momentum was still on the Blue Devils’ side at the beginning of the second half. Turner received the kick
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CONTINUED ON PAGE 15
MOSER NAMED UNION COUNTY ‘PLAYER OF THE YEAR’
Six Raiders, One Devil Head All-Union Boys Soccer List
By DAVID B. CORBIN
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times
Six Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School boys soccer players and one Westfield High School soccer player have been selected to the 1998 First Team All-Union County by the Union County Coaches. Seniors Todd Moser, Peter Kobliska and Tafarie Laing, junior Eugene Ferrara and sophomores Brad Lowyns and Mike Zotti were the Raider elite and junior Ralph Rapuano was selected for the Blue Devils.
As a team, the Raider boys were simply fabulous as they finished at 24-2-1, repeated as Union County Champions, successfully defended their North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 Crown and won their secondstraight Group 3 State Championship at the College of New Jersey.
Moser, who switched from midfield to sweeper, became an educator wherever he was. He was always able to teach opposing players a lesson in ball control. Moser was also named as the Star Ledger’s
1998 Union County Player of the Year. For his mastery of soccer skills, Moser will most likely be and definitely should be near the top on the upcoming All-State list. He already has been rated as one of the best high school soccer players in the nation. Moser had 25 goals and nine assists this season and finished his high school career with 44 goals and 29 assists.
As a defender, Kobliska was a solid as a rock and repelled attacks like two facing North sides of a powerful
magnet. He was instrumental in quickly getting the Raiders back on the offensive.
Laing was devastating as a forward. He had it all; speed, quickness and vision. His constant motion made defenders quite nervous and he always knew when it was the proper
time to pass to a teammate. He would make swift movements down the sidelines, then would quickly punch the ball to Moser or Ferrara as they came down the middle near the goal. Laing finished this season with 10 goals and 14 assists.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
Scotch Plains-Fanwood TODD MOSER…Senior Co-Captain of the boys soccer team. Moser played as a midfielder and would also switch as a stopper when requested. He was selected to the First Team All-Union County and most likely will be selected All-State. Moser has been recognized as being one of the best high school players in the state and in the nation. He led the Raiders to their seventh New Jersey Group 3 State title. Moser has made the honor roll this past marking period and will attend Rutgers University next fall on a soccer scholarship. The ScholarAthlete of the Month has been created by The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood and is supported by the listed sponsors.
David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times
FIRST TEAM ALL-UNION COUNTY…Six Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Raiders soccer players have been selected First Team All-Union County by the Union County coaches. Pictured, left to right, are: front, senior Tafarie Laing, sophomore Mike Zotti and senior Peter Kobliska; back, junior Eugene Ferrara, senior Todd Moser and sophomore Brad Lowyns. The Raiders recently won their seventh Group 3 New Jersey State Championship at the College of New Jersey.
David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times
ROLLING AROUND THE RIGHT SIDE…Lamont Turner takes a handoff from quarterback Brandon Doerr, No. 15, and hooks around the right side for a gain.
John F. Runta for The Westfield Leader and The Times
KEEPING THE SPIRITS HIGH…The Westfield High School cheerleaders worked very hard keeping spirits high during the title game at Giants Stadium.
David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times
HEADING FOR A BIG GAIN…Blue Devil Todd Dowling, No. 44, looks for open field and eventually make a big gain against the Colonials during the North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 Championship game at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford on December 5. Matt Krug, No 56, made several great blocks during the game.
John F. Runta for The Westfield Leader and The Times
CLAWING AND SCRATCHING FOR THE TOUCHDOWN…Blue Devil Lamont Turner received a pass from quarterback Brandon Doerr and refuses to go down until he scores a touchdown in the second quarter against Morristown. The Colonials got momentum on their side twice and won 37-14.
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