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FERRARA SCORES 2; FIORINO AND SIGMON ASSIST
Raiders Win Fifth in-a-Row; Whip Wolfpack Boys, 2-0 By DAVID B. CORBIN
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times
If rings were handed out for sectional championships, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School boys soccer Head Coach Tom Breznitsky would have had one for each thumb as the Raiders captured their fifthstraight and 10th overall Section 2, Group 3 State Championship by de
feating a fine West Morris Central team, 2-0, at Shimme A. Wexler Field in Scotch Plains on November 13. Friday the 13th was definitely good luck for junior Eugene Ferrara as he hexed the Wolfpack net with both goals.
All was not rosy for the Raiders. The Wolfpack took offensive control for the first five minutes before the
Raiders could even put together their offensive. When they did, on two occasions Raider Todd Moser penetrated the middle and headed two shots at the goal which were caught by goalie Nico Barnes.
For the next 10 minutes, the Wolfpack continued to put on the pressure. One exception came when Peter Kobliska worked his way down the right side and passed left to the highly energetic Mike Zotti in the center. From there, Zotti, amid several Wolfpack defenders, got off a shot that was deflected and veered just to the left of the post.
With 20:32 left in the half, Zotti was tripped in the box and Moser took a free kick that hooked over the Wolfpack wall and into the arms of Barnes. Three minutes later, Zotti nearly scored when he sharply headed a shot off the crossbar.
For a brief period, the Wolfpack got inspired after teammate Dave Twitchell was knocked down and suffered a rib injury. Wolfpack forward Mike Baumbach took a wicked shot, but Raider goalie Brad Lowyns made a great leaping save to turn back the attack.
The offensive tide began to shift to the Raiders in the final 13 minutes of the half. Coach Breznitsky had Moser
DOERR PASSES FOR TWO TD’S, KICKS FIELD GOAL
Devils Endanger a Species; Destroy the Wolfpack, 30-6
By DAVID B. CORBIN
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times
A taste of victory in a state sectional game has not occurred for the Westfield High School football team since the Blue Devils defeated Barringer, 33-12, in the sectional finals before a crowd of 32,232 at Giants Stadium in 1977 * (See Sports Editor’s Note). On November 14 at Gary Kehler Stadium in Westfield, the Blue Devils nearly made the Wolfpack from West Morris Central an endangered species by shelling them 30-6. Senior quarterback Brandon Doerr, the Blue Devil player of the game, participated in the destruction, passing for two touchdowns and kicking a 27-yard field goal.
The Blue Devils provided weapons in every aspect of the game. In the first half, the Blue Devil defense held the Wolfpack to only 27 total yards. Senior defensive end Gabe Perez constantly pressured Wolfpack quarterbacks James Henkel and Craig Cammarata. Defensive tackle Devin Griffiths stopped anything which ran his way. Superb blocking by Tom
Langton, Rob Albino and Matt Krug paved the way for backs Lamont Turner, Todd Dowling and Tom Lee to make huge gains.
“We expected a real battle. We came to play,” said Tranchina. “We played a very physical game.”
The Blue Devils’ first score came on a 61-yard drive which was finalized when Turner drilled three yards through the Wolfpack defensive line and into the endzone with 10:09 remaining in the half. Doerr’s successful kick made the score, 7-0.
The Wolfpack had the ball deep in their own territory. Henkel dropped back to pass, but when Perez and Griffiths came storming at him like angry, snorting rhinoceroses, he dropped the football and Perez pounced upon it at the 10.
On the very first play, with 9:06 left in the half, Doerr hit senior Maurice Boatwright in the right corner of the endzone. The score remained at 13-0 when the extra point failed.
The Blue Devils immediately started the offensive wheels of
progress rolling in the second half when Lee took the kickoff from the 25 to the 45. Dowling smashed nine yards to the Wolfpack 46, then bashed his way to the 41 for a first down. A pitchout to Turner moved the ball to the 30, then Dowling took the handoff and barreled to the 18 for another first down. After Dowling plunged to the 10 to set up a third-and-one situation, a bungled pitchout forced the Blue Devils to attempt a field goal from the 10. Doerr split the uprights with 7:59 left of the third quarter and the Blue Devils’ lead was increased to 16-0.
The Wolfpack had their first significant drive of the game when they moved the ball from their own nine to the Blue Devil 43. From there, Perez tossed Cammarata for a seven-yard loss, then the Wolfpack was penalized five yards for lining up off sides. On the next play, Perez and Griffiths bounced Cammarata for another fiveyard loss.
A Wolfpack punt was fielded by Turner at the 24. From there, Turner
L. CARAVELLO GRABS 1ST IN UNEVENS; NEW RECORD SET
Blue Devil Gymnasts Finish Fourth in State Tournament
By DAVID B. CORBIN
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times
Freshman Lauren Caravello swung her way to a state title on the uneven bars and the Westfield High School girls gymnastics team made a spectacular showing, placing fourth with a 108.95 total at the New Jersey High School girls Gymnastic Championships at Shawnee High School in Medford on November 13. Once again, the Blue Devil girls set another Westfield High School record with their team total.
Only once before had the Blue Devil girls placed higher in the state tournament. In 1992, the Blue Devils placed second with a lower total of 101.8.
“Even though we finished fourth, this year’s team was better,” claimed Blue Devil Head Coach Ellen Kovac. “It’s just that the competition this year was much tougher.”
Lauren Caravello’s first place performance on the uneven bars was the best Blue Devil showing since Dawn Verschilling placed third in the all around in 1990.
“It was a beautiful routine. In addition to her front and back giants and her giant with a Healy twirl, she added a double-back flyaway,” ex
plained Kovac. “Not only was it high and clean, but she did it perfectly which got her no deductions.”
Lauren Caravello also placed 12th in the all around with a total of 36.15, placed 11th on the beam with a 9.0, had a 9.1 on the floor and an 8.45 in the vaulting.
Every one of the girls had spectacular performances and turned in very high totals in the all around.
“Every girl added something to their routines,” said Kovac. “The additions were what I termed as prudent risks.”
Senior Julie Elmuccio placed 11th in the all around with a total of 36.175. She placed fifth in the floor exercises with a 9.35 and eighth on the uneven bars with a 9.2. Elmuccio also had very good scores of 8.875 in the vault and an 8.75 on the balance beam.
“She did a very difficult doubletwisting full layout somersault and on one of her passes, she did a front flip to a round off to a full-twisting back flip,” pointed out Kovac of Elmuccio’s floor routine.
The rules of the state tournament have always been quite complex and a very interesting situation occurred with reference to senior Laurie
Hogan’s performances. Hogan registered a score of 9.425 on the floor exercises which would have placed her third. In addition, Hogan totaled 36.225 in the all around which would have placed her 10th.
“Laurie would have placed third on the floor, but because she placed
CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
Raiders Advance to State Soccer Finals. See Stories in 11-26 Issue
David B. Corbin for The Leader and The Times
Blue Devil Lauren Caravello
David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times
TRAMPLING OVER THE WOLFPACK…Blue Devil Tom Lee, No. 1, tramples over several members of the Wolfpack and scores a touchdown with 4:30 remaining. Westfield won the Section 2, Group 3 game over West Morris Central, 306, at Gary Kehler Stadium in Westfield on November 14.
David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times
BURSTING THROUGH FOR YARDAGE…Raider La’Marr McDaniel, No. 30, cracks through the Nutley line for a good gain during the consolation game at Perry Tyson Field in Scotch Plains on November 14.
David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times
NECESSARY INGREDIENT…Sophomore Dave Sigmon, No. 5, has played a major role in the Raider boys success this season.
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