FridayNightRainySaturday

It was wonderful to see a big crowd at Manville High School's football field Friday night to see the Mustangs (6-1) go at it with unbeaten Belvidere.

More than 1,000 braved the miserable weather. The rain fell in one pace or another throughout. It just proved once again what we've known for decades: you win games, the crowds will follow.

If you're a Manville fan, you may feel like this after witnessing the 35-10 Belvidere victory: "We made five turnovers. We held our own for a good part of the first half, and we made some big plays. If we don't turn the ball over, it's a different game."

If you're a Belvidere fan you say: "Manville was never really a threat. They had one field goal and a 'Hail Mary' at the end of the first half."

Belvidere is the class of the Skyland Conference Valley Division. Plain and simple.

By the way, several folks asked my opinion on who did a better job against Belvidere (8-0) -- Bound Brook or Manville. Two different teams. Two different nights.

Belvidere routed Bound Brook 49-12 on a beautiful early October night in Belvidere. Belvidere beat Manville 35-10 on a rainy, cold night at the end of October.

Manville did accomplish something Bound Brook didn't against Belvidere. The Crusaders didn't score on a play from scrimmage. Chris Jeskie returned an interception for a touchdown and Deven Baker returned a kickoff for a score long after the game was decided.

Manville can say it scored a field goal and that 30-yard pass that quarterback Mike Knitowski threw to Kyle Sopko on the last play of the first half.

Another thought about the experience at Manville. It took just over 20 minutes for the Manville rescue squad ambulance to arrive after Manville star Tom Rock was hurt late in the third quarter. Manville coach Brett Stibitz said Rock was unconcious after being hit hard after making an interception at the Mustang 1-yard line. Fortunately, Tom is OK and was alert as he was taken from the field. But that was one, very long wait. I can't imagine how Rock felt.