Post 573 – Bull Session Week Three

I saw my first “great” game of the year last Friday night when River Dell topped Ramapo, 22-21 with River Dell successfully converting a two-point conversion with 1:40 left for the win. I always support a coach going for the win. Sometimes it doesn’t work, but I still respect the decision…..Salem beat their recent nemesis, Penns Grove, last Saturday, 35-24. The game was closer than the score, as Salem scored three touchdowns in four plays in the fourth quarter to break open a close game…..I was impressed with Delbarton last Saturday and while I am not predicting a win over Don Bosco, I think they can be a handful for the Ironmen this week. Delbarton’s strength is their front four and they also have state champion wrestler PJ Casale at middle linebacker. Don Bosco’s strength is their offensive line, making this an interesting matchup between these two units…..Speaking of Casale as a wrestler, I always say any team needs a couple of good wrestlers…..Colts Neck and Freehold Boro combined for nearly 700 yards in a game won by Colts Neck, 36-35. The game also featured Colts Neck’s Joe Barsky gaining 202 yards and three touchdowns on 39 carries…..One of the top running backs in the state has to be Patrick Smith of Holy Spirit. Another is Somerville’s Cookie Desiderio and he has a great name to boot. And lets not forget Audric Estime of St. Joe’s (Montvale) and Ryan Butler of Bergen Catholic…..One of the games I will be attending is Eastside at Clifton on Friday night. I like what Eastside coach James Magazine is doing. When they missed the playoffs because a player or two was ejected for fighting, he made no excuses and said there are consequences for their actions. He also apologized for a late touchdown against Bayonne last week, saying the play was not intended to be a touchdown and he does not like to run up scores. A class act…..A great highlight is the one where the Gloucester Catholic defensive lineman returns an interception for a touchdown…..Pompton Lakes beat Glen Rock, 14-7, on a diving touchdown catch by Jesus Aponte late in the game in Pompton Lakes. The Cardinals play their home games at Hershfield Park, one of the best places to see a game…..I was sad to hear about the passing of Mark Czerwinski, a former reporter from The Record. Mark was a class act who loved high school sports and had no hidden agenda. It was a treat to be on the sidelines with him and many conversations about high school football. Mark would wear his red-and-black checkered hat, one his family called his Elmer Fudd hat and, like me, appreciated the games of the old BCSL Olympic…..It was sad to see North Bergen lose to Union City last week, 70-3 and the score was 48-3 at the half. The Bruins used to be a yearly power, but those days are over…..One interesting matchup this weekend features Group 5 Williamstown and Group 1 Willingboro. Both were South Jersey champions last year….. Other good ones in South Jersey are Hammonton-St. Augustine and Penns Grove-Delsea…..Cherokee also visits Hun School on Saturday afternoon…..An interesting Shore Conference matchup is Mater Dei against Middletown South…..And a late matchup in the Super Conference is Union City visiting Randolph…..Speaking of Hun, their quarterback, Marco Lainez has completed 31 of 35 passes for 664 yards and 8 touchdowns, according to nj.com…..Also from nj.com, I noticed John Volker from Rumson-Fair Haven 289 yards on 10 carries – 28.9 yard per carry…..Now that some games have been rescheduled, I will head to Hawthorne for their game against Pompton Lakes on Saturday night. That’s all for today. I will be back next week with some more bull!