The Westfield Leader Newspaper
The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK

THE WEEK IN SPORTS Check it out on the website! www. goleader. com

JONES PLOWS FOR 3 TD’S, COUSAR GETS 59YD TD INTERCEPTION

Rough Raider Gridmen Finish in Style; Plow Over 17thRanked Farmers, 2713

By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

A lesson in farming took place as the Scotch PlainsFanwood High School football team reaped victory by plowing over the 17thranked Union Farmers, 2713, in the annual Thanksgiving Day classic in Scotch Plains. The impressive victory was the first over Union since Raider Head Coach Steve Ciccotelli has taken the reins and, perhaps, the first ever.

Demonstrating their moxie after their disappointing 142 loss to Rahway in the NJ Section 2, Group 3 semifinals, the Raiders performed their magic as senior standout Nathan Jones plowed for 169 yards and three touchdowns and junior Gary Cousar returned an interception 59 yards for another touchdown.

“It was our last game. All that was emphasized was that we go out good,” said Jones. “We haven’t beaten Union

in the history of Scotch Plains.” Further explaining the Raiders’ success with Union, Jones said, “The coach knew that we lined up well with them. We took a tough loss last week, but our team did a great job rebounding from it. The whole line was blocking and opening up holes. It was like the old Raiders at the beginning of the season. I’m happy with this and I will remember this game forever. The last game of my senior season!”

The Raiders’ true character was tested in the first quarter when Farmer quarterback Mike Devlin completed to split end Jeff Bubnowski for a 13yard touchdown with 7: 31 left.

Back came the Raiders and Jones. After the kickoff sophomore quarterback Brian Schiller engineered a 65yard drive that culminated in a nineyard Jones touchdown run with :26 left in the quarter. Although seem ingly stopped at the line

of scrimmage, Jones m i r a c u l o u s l y emerged from the mob and, presto, into the endzone. Doug Gillie’s extra point gave the Raiders a 76 lead.

Ferocious defensive pressure on the Farmer punter early in the second quarter by the Raiders set up the next touchdown situation. After a short drive, the ball rested on the Farmer one, but not for long as Jones bashed in for the touchdown with 8: 37 on the clock. Gillie booted the extra point to levitate the lead to 146.

The next magical trick occurred four minutes later when Jones dis appeared into the Farmer defensive

line at their 40, reemerged, then streaked into the endzone, elevating

the score to 206. Not permitting the Farmers to develop their offense, Cousar

tipped the ball on an out pattern, caught it, then galloped 59 yards down the sideline

to give the Raiders a 276, halftime lead.

With a bit of deception, Schiller who had been purposely squibbling his kickoffs during the first half, drilled a shot to an empty area on the left sideline where it was fielded at the two. Two seconds later, a host of Raiders buried the Farmer return man at the 10.

Jones and the Raiders appeared to be playing possessed. TriCaptain Ron Jenerette killed a Farmer offensive before it could get started by crushing running back Paul DeFrancesco for a threeyard loss on a breadandbutter

DEVILS’ ‘D’ STOPS CARDINALS ON 45 OF 48 PLAYS

Cardinal Gridders Pass Past Blue Devils in Turkey Classic

By BRUCE JOHNSON

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Stop Anthony (A. D.) Davis. That is what the Westfield High School defenders knew they would have to do if the Blue Devils were going to knock off archrival Plainfield on Thanksgiving Day at Gary Kehler Stadium in Westfield. A victory would go a long way to salvaging an otherwise disappointing season.

And, before a huge, raindrenched crowd of over 4,000 fans, Westfield brought its “A” “D” to the game. Look at the numbers: On 45 offensive snaps, the explosive Cardinals were limited to just 69 yards, about a yard and a half per play. Unfortunately, Plainfield ran 48 offensive

plays, and the other three were touchdown runs of 66 and 94 yards by Davis, while the backbreaker was a 69yard TD pass (off a fake to Davis)

with just under four minutes left in the game, giving the Cardinals a 2014 victory.

The ending was similar to many other losses this year for the 37 Devils. Highly ranked Hoboken broke their backs with four long scores; Scotch PlainsFanwood played long ball and Nathan Jones became a household name with his fiveTD effort; and both Union and Linden escaped with victories over WHS using bigyardage touchdowns.

It’s not unrealistic to think Westfield could have gone 64 or even 73, but it will go into the books as 37. And the Blue Devils still lead the ancient rivalry with Plainfield with 47 wins, 41 losses and 7 ties.

Westfield’s defense was tested early. After forcing a punt, Plainfield took CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

over at its 20. Three Davis runs earned three yards, but surehanded Mike Mroz muffed the punt and the Cardinals recovered at the Westfield 47.

Aided by a roughingthekicker penalty, Plainfield drove to the 11, but Josh Ray and Tom Hanscom nailed

Davis for a twoyard loss on fourth down.

Chris Giacone’s 25yard run and a 14yard burst by Terrence Jenkins helped move Westfield across midfield, but the drive stalled and Ryan MacDonald’s 42yard punt was

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

High School Sports pgs 1316 Governor Livingston Sports 15

SR. VAL GRIFFETH BECOMES PLAYER OF THE GAME

Senior Blue Devils OutFinesse Juniors in Powder Puff, 140

By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Perhaps it was just the extra year of education or perhaps it was the proper use of talent, but it was clear that the seniors had the superior offensive game plan in the annual Westfield High School Powder Puff game as they trounced the juniors, 140, on November 24 at Gary Kehler Stadium. Senior offensive dynamo Val Griffeth made two sweeping touchdown runs to seal the helpless juniors’ fate.

Prior to the game, Josh Ponzio, one of the senior coaches, had good feelings about his team’s prospects. “We have a lot of really good players returning and I think that we will beat them,” he said confidently. “We have veteran Katy Brunetto at quarterback and we are going to use both

running and passing attacks.” Senior Erika Van Anglen kicked off and junior Taryn Wyckoff scooped the ball at the 20 and returned it to the 30. Junior quarterback Alex Lee found it difficult to get her offense going as it sputtered and Michelle Meglaughlin was forced to punt. She adeptly slanted it to the right sideline where the ball rolled dead at the 45.

Brunetto at quarterback took to the air on first down and hit Kristen Leonardis who then steamed to the 30 for a 15yard gain. Marina Powell blasted to the 24, then on the next play, Brunetto hooked left on a keeper and was viciously greeted by a host of rabid juniors. After a brief discussion, Brunetto regrouped then handed off to Powell, but junior Jena Davino blitzed and flagged her for a four yard loss. The junior defense held

and took over at the 20. Wyckoff swept left nine yards on a pitchout and was flagged by senior Kelly Picaro, but the offense sputtered again and Meglaughlin punted to the 45.

A perfectly executed pitchout right to Griffeth resulted in a 45yard gallop into the endzone with just .08 left in the first quarter. Brunetto upped the score to 80 when she hooked left on a keeper and reached pay dirt.

With spirit, the juniors responded when Wyckoff received the kickoff on the 34 and returned it to the 49. Next a pitchout to Melissa Fry resulted in a 16yard gain to the seniors’ 35 where she was forced out by Van Anglen. Wyckoff whammed her way to the 28

then a fiveyard penalty put the juniors within striking distance roughly at the 25. But,

the omnipresent Julia Gates snagged an interception

at the 20. An off sides penalty and two fine runs by

Griffeth, one which was negated by a clipping penalty, followed. Next, a fumble recovery by Marin Priestly and a fiveyard sack by junior Jenna Fowler quelled

any further senior offensive penetration prior to the half.

Coach Ryan MacDonald collected his junior girls and rehashed strategy. “I think that we are doing a great job. It’s all just for fun anyway,” commented MacDonald. “We are going to shuttle in different people to get everybody into the game. We are going to have fun and I think that we definitely have a chance to come back in the second half.”

Confident that the tide was going to remain in the seniors’ favor, coach Pat Tuohy stated, “We are going to take it to them and keep running the ball to the outside. We have the talent, the finesse and the brains.”

Junior Meglauglin kicked off to start the third quarter and “Tasmanian Blue Devil” Heather Dennis grabbed the ball and was knocked out of bounds by Jessica Smith at the 35. Junior Elyssa Cognetti made a leaping interception at midfield, but just

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times HEADING FOR A BIG GAIN… Junior Blue Devil Taryn Wyckoff heads for a big gain as senior hands attempt to rip her flag. The picture above is senior Kristen Leonardis.

David B. Corbin for The Leader and The Times Raider senior Anthony Cary

Nick Ponzio for The Westfield Leader and The Times SWARMING ALL OVER A HIGHFLYING CARDINAL… The Blue Devil defense swarms all over Cardinal star Anthony Davis in the annual Thanksgiving Day Classic held at Gary Kehler Stadium. Picture below: Three Devil defensemen prepare to pounce on a Cardinal.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times KEEPING A FARMER TO THE GROUND… Raiders Louis Schultz, No. 76, and Dan Loomis, No. 75, plow a Union Farmer into the Scotch PlainsFanwood turf on Thanksgiving Day. The Raiders buried the Farmers, 2713.

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