The Westfield Leader Newspaper
The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK

THE WEEK IN SPORTS High School Sports pg 1316 Governor Livingston Sports 15 Check it out on the website!

www. goleader. com

RAIDER BELL TIES, DEVIL RAPUANO RIPPLES 3 GOALS

Raiders Get Watchung Title; Tie Blue Devils, 33, in OT By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Yellow cards were flashing and the stakes were high; however, in the end, the Scotch PlainsFanwood and Westfield High School boys battled to a 33 tie after one overtime in We s t field on November 9. The Raide r s gained the Watchung Conference National Division title with the tie.

Senior Ralph Rapuano had all three of the Blue Devil goals.

Westfield also had the opportunity to win the conference with the victory. Both teams would have had seven wins with only one loss and the Blue Devils would have won due to a headtohead advantage.

The next criteria would have been based on points.

“We had seven wins in the conference and now have two ties. And Westfield had six wins and now have a tie,” explained Raider Head Coach Tom Breznitsky. “You get two points for each win and one each for the ties.”

From the onset, emotions were high and each team was banging and jockeying for supremacy. The Blue Devils grasped the edge early on and

mounted a constant invasion of the Raider domain in the first four minutes. Rapuano and Alex Lau ripped shots toward the Raider goal and on one occasion junior keeper Brad Lowyns made a leaping deflection of Lau’s shot.

Finally, with just four minutes off the clock, Rapuano whizzed a shot into the upper right corner of the net to put the Devils ahead.

The Raiders awakened and provided a barrage of

their own.

PAVONI BLOCKS PAT, INTERCEPTS; JONES BREAKS OWN SPF RECORD

Raiders Dodge Thor’s Lightning Bolts; Hold Off Vikings, 4241, in Sectionals By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Heroes emerge! Heroes on both sides! And it takes heart to build a hero. However, the Scotch PlainsFanwood High School football team won the battle of the heroes by blocking the second half lightning attacks of Parsippany Hills to grab a heartstopping, knee shaking, 4241, victory in the first round of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 playoffs in Scotch Plains on November 13. Raider Andrew Pavoni, a hero, halted the final two Viking lighting attacks by blocking an extra point and snagging a victorysecuring interception.

“He plays hard every week and he made the two big plays,” commented Raider Head Coach Steve Ciccotelli.

Another hero indeed was senior Nathan Jones who rushed for 345 yards, 269 in the first half, and broke his own alltime Raider pergame rushing record of 318 set against Westfield on October 2. In addition, he had a personalbest, six touchdowns and caught two passes for 58 yards.

Great containment by linebacker Dave Herrmann and a sixyard sack by Bob Dinsmore stopped the Vikings first drive on their own 37 and forced a punt which rolled dead at the Raider 46. Then Jones went to work. On first down, he dashed 29 yards to the 25. After a mishandled snap, the only first half offensive play that Jones would not be involved in, Jones carried a few more times to the Viking 15 then sliced right on a pitchout and into the endzone with 6: 18 left in the first quarter. Doug Gillie then kicked the first of his six extra points.

Relying on their solid defense, the Raider kickoff team took a conservative approach, consistently kicking short on every kickoff to avoid having the ball get into the hands of speedsters and eventual Viking heroes Johnny Morant and RJ Cobbs. The strategy worked as defensive tackle Dan Loomis plugged up the middle, then Dinsmore recorded another sevenyard sack on fourth down to give the Raiders possession on their own 31.

Flash! Jones cut through the center then slanted right to the Viking 35. After gaining one, Jones upped the score to 140 with :42 left in the quarter

with a 34yard touchdown run. With some flare of their own the Vikings, from the 35, tightened the score, 147, on a nine yard pass play then a 56yard touchdown run from Cobb, just 11 seconds into the second quarter.

After a fumble gave the Vikings possession on the Raider 28, the

Raider defense held and forced a field goal attempt with the ball resting on the 11. Wide right!

With the ball on the 20, Jones ran for two yards then flew 59 yards to the 19. On the next play, Jones slashed right for the touchdown with 7: 50 left in the half, making the score 217. Jones added another touchdown

before the half on a 42yard breeze, giving the Raiders a 287 lead.

With 1: 33 left in the third quarter Jones pushed the lead to 357 with a 54yard touchdown pass reception from quarterback Brian Schiller.

The Raiders were rolling but the Viking god Thor opened the skies

JENKINS GALLOPS FOR TD, RECEIVES TD PASS

Lancers’ Air Attack Burns Blue Devil Gridders, 3020 By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Frank DeNick’s 87yard opening kickoff return set the stage but it was the passing of quarterback Spiro Spiratos that broke the back of the Blue Devils as the Livingston High School football team came out on top, 3020, in a consolation game atop the artificial turf in Livingston on November 12. Sophomore half back Terrence Jenkins revived the

Blue Devils with a touchdown run and a touchdown reception.

Before the Blue Devils could respond, it was halftime and they were behind 210. Sophomore quarterback Ryan MacDonald completed just one of nine passes for seven yards in the first half and the Blue Devils could muster just 27 yards rushing.

“Mac injured two fingers on his throwing arm and was playing in

pain,” commented Blue Devil Head Coach Ed Tranchina. “He hurt it early and did not tell me until the half. He was trying to suck it up.”

DeNick began the surge when he caught the kickoff on the 13 and 13 seconds later, he was in the Blue Devil endzone. The extra point failed and the Lancers had a 60 lead.

Blue Devil Gymnast Lauren Caravello Wins 2ndStraight State Title on Uneven Bars Page 14 Rams Butt Blue Devils; Win Sectional Title, 10

By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

One big bounce was what it took for the visiting Randolph High School girls soccer team to get past the Westfield girls in the finals of the Section 2, Group 4 State Tournament on Veterans Day. S h i n o b u B h a r a j scored the g a m e ’s only goal to advance

the Rams to the Group 4 semifinals a g a i n s t Wayne Valley who defeated Kearny, 10. The Blue Devils and the Rams met on September 28 and the game ended in a 11 tie. This time, credit must be given to the overall team speed of the Rams who swiftly and consistently butted the ball into Blue Devil territory for the vast majority of the game.

“They had a little bit more speed than us,” stated the observant Blue

Devil Head Coach Pete Giordano. The team speed forced the hand of Blue Devil keeper Michelle Meglaughlin and, on several occasions, shemade some great diving saves and timely

charges. In addition, Leigh Kendrick,

Taryn Wyckoff and Stevie Larson

warded off several Ram assaults.

With the exception of a fiveminute

Blue Devil offensive flurry, the Rams dominated the first half and continued early in the second. The scoreless tie ended five and a half minutes in when Bharaj bounced the ball over

the outstretched hands of a charging

and diving M e g l a u g h l i n . Credit for an assist w a s given to midfielder Eugenia Siamas.

When asked to describe the nature of the goal, Giordano said, “I wish

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

Senior Eugene Ferrara hooked a shot from the corner, which was knocked away by Devil goalie Erik Schoenemann. Jeff Hensal was wide left, Antonio Dopazo was just to the right, then Ferrara forced a leaping save.

Although the contact was brutal, neither team scored until very late in the second half. During that time, both Schoenemann and Lowyns expertly stopped zinging shots with diving saves and Blue Devil sweeper Conner Mulvee made some key de

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times SAILING JUST OVER THE CROSSBAR… Blue Devil goalie Erik Schoenemann, in yellow, and teammate Brad Gillin, No. 3, watch the ball sail over the crossbar on the action after a corner kick. Raiders David Bell, left, and Antonio Dopazo, No. 23, observe.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times BLUE DEVILS BANGING IT UP WITH THE LANCERS… Blue Devils Mike Mroz, No. 22, Tom Hanscom, No. 21, and Matt Seagull, No. 55, had a bangup time with the Lancers in Livingston on November 12.

Blue Devil freshman Morgan Lang, No. 19, eyes the ball.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times CUTTING FOR ONE OF SIX TOUCHDOWNS… Raider Nathan Jones, No. 22, cuts through the Viking line en route to a 34yard touchdown gallop in the first quarter.

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