Bernards High football coach Joe Milde told me Friday night that he's stepping down as head coach of the Mountaineers after eight years. His team made the sectional playoffs three times, including this past year when the Mountaineers qualified as a North 2 Group II school.
Milde said he will be replaced by defensive coordinator John Simoneau, who has been the team's defensive coordinator.
Milde, who has had one of the longest tenure of any Mountaineer football coach in their long history, has been affiliated with the team for 15 years -- seven as an assistant. He will continue to coach girls basketball and golf.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
A meeting to get pumped by
Stopped by Hunterdon Central Thursday afternoon to take a picture of Alexander Lum, the versatile Red Devil junior slot back.
Central coach Matt Perotti had his team come in at 5 p.m. to practice, so they could get familiar with the time they will be playing Piscatawayat Rutgers Stadium Saturday.
"Usually, the kids are coming down at this point from our practice," Perotti said. "So we're going to come in at 5 today and tomorrow."
The Red Devils went over special teams in a short practice. Defensive coordinator Tom Bill and Perotti spoke before the Red Devils went outside.
At one point, Perotti quoted Sun Tzu, author of "The Art of War", one of the oldest books on military strategy in the world. Sun Tzu was the first to recognize the importance of positioning in strategy and that position is affected both by objective.
One of Tzu's quotations is: "Therefore one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the most skillful. Seizing the enemy without fighting is the most skillful."
That wasn't the one Perotti used.
Central coach Matt Perotti had his team come in at 5 p.m. to practice, so they could get familiar with the time they will be playing Piscatawayat Rutgers Stadium Saturday.
"Usually, the kids are coming down at this point from our practice," Perotti said. "So we're going to come in at 5 today and tomorrow."
The Red Devils went over special teams in a short practice. Defensive coordinator Tom Bill and Perotti spoke before the Red Devils went outside.
At one point, Perotti quoted Sun Tzu, author of "The Art of War", one of the oldest books on military strategy in the world. Sun Tzu was the first to recognize the importance of positioning in strategy and that position is affected both by objective.
One of Tzu's quotations is: "Therefore one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the most skillful. Seizing the enemy without fighting is the most skillful."
That wasn't the one Perotti used.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Turkey follow
Some thoughts from the Thanksgiving Day and Thanksgiving Day eve games before going off into the sectional final week.
North Plainfield looked like a team headed for a sectional title game -- not South Plainfield. The Tigers looked un-interested for most of their 39-6 loss to North Plainfield at Krausche Field Thursday. The Canucks played like a championship team from the time senior Devon Williams returned the game's opening kickoff 91 yards to set up a short touchdown pass from senior quarterback Bilal Jones to junior wideout Julian Frazier. North Plainfield junior tackle Ty Chandler, who had a 15-yard sack of Tiger quarterback Mike Burton, is going to be a somebody to watch next year.
Hopefully, South Plainfield gets very interested for its North 2 Group III title game with West Side next Sunday morning at Giants Stadium.
I was told by some North Plainfield fans that there was some vandalizing done around the high school by Tiger fans. My suggestion to South Plainfield: forget the gamesmanship and get into this series. North Plainfield holds a 6-0 lead since the series was restored in 2002.
Watchung Hills won its last three games to finish 5-5. The Warriors, who open with a night game against Plainfield next year (Sept. 12), had a great night running the ball against Ridge.
Heard some interesting scheduling news for 2008. One is that two holiday games will be moved into the regular season -- Montgomery-Hillsborough will be moved to the ninth week and Watchung Hills-Ridge will also be moved. Both of those games will be played Nov. 7.
Since there will be some adjustments in the Skyland Conference divisions next year -- Ridge will play Somerville; Somerville will also play Rahway and North Warren. Bernards will drop from the Skyland Raritan to the Skyland Valley while North Warren will move up to the Raritan.
I was 7-2 in the holiday games. I picked Ridge over Watchung Hills. Watchung Hills rolled. I picked South Plainfield to beat North Plainfield. North Plainfield rolled. That would be two terrible picks.
Also, I picked Delaware Valley to romp past South Hunterdon 28-0. Well, Del Val won, but the Eagles played a great game, falling 14-7.
North Plainfield looked like a team headed for a sectional title game -- not South Plainfield. The Tigers looked un-interested for most of their 39-6 loss to North Plainfield at Krausche Field Thursday. The Canucks played like a championship team from the time senior Devon Williams returned the game's opening kickoff 91 yards to set up a short touchdown pass from senior quarterback Bilal Jones to junior wideout Julian Frazier. North Plainfield junior tackle Ty Chandler, who had a 15-yard sack of Tiger quarterback Mike Burton, is going to be a somebody to watch next year.
Hopefully, South Plainfield gets very interested for its North 2 Group III title game with West Side next Sunday morning at Giants Stadium.
I was told by some North Plainfield fans that there was some vandalizing done around the high school by Tiger fans. My suggestion to South Plainfield: forget the gamesmanship and get into this series. North Plainfield holds a 6-0 lead since the series was restored in 2002.
Watchung Hills won its last three games to finish 5-5. The Warriors, who open with a night game against Plainfield next year (Sept. 12), had a great night running the ball against Ridge.
Heard some interesting scheduling news for 2008. One is that two holiday games will be moved into the regular season -- Montgomery-Hillsborough will be moved to the ninth week and Watchung Hills-Ridge will also be moved. Both of those games will be played Nov. 7.
Since there will be some adjustments in the Skyland Conference divisions next year -- Ridge will play Somerville; Somerville will also play Rahway and North Warren. Bernards will drop from the Skyland Raritan to the Skyland Valley while North Warren will move up to the Raritan.
I was 7-2 in the holiday games. I picked Ridge over Watchung Hills. Watchung Hills rolled. I picked South Plainfield to beat North Plainfield. North Plainfield rolled. That would be two terrible picks.
Also, I picked Delaware Valley to romp past South Hunterdon 28-0. Well, Del Val won, but the Eagles played a great game, falling 14-7.
Back for the holiday
Championship week is ahead and we'll all be busy.
I'll try to update the blog with stuff you might not get in the paper.
Immaculata goes for its 24th straight win and its second straight Non-Public Group III title against Holy Spirit Saturday at 2 p.m. at Giants Stadium.
Hunterdon Central goes for its second straight sectional title -- this time as a North 2 Group IV school Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. at Rutgers againt Piscataway, which is hoping to regain a title. The Chiefs last won in 2004 at Rutgers. Central won as a Central IV school last year.
South Plainfield gets to play at Giants Stadium a week from Sunday at 11 a.m. in the North 2 Group III title game against West Side. The Tigers have been in a sectional title game twice before without a win.
I'll try to update the blog with stuff you might not get in the paper.
Immaculata goes for its 24th straight win and its second straight Non-Public Group III title against Holy Spirit Saturday at 2 p.m. at Giants Stadium.
Hunterdon Central goes for its second straight sectional title -- this time as a North 2 Group IV school Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. at Rutgers againt Piscataway, which is hoping to regain a title. The Chiefs last won in 2004 at Rutgers. Central won as a Central IV school last year.
South Plainfield gets to play at Giants Stadium a week from Sunday at 11 a.m. in the North 2 Group III title game against West Side. The Tigers have been in a sectional title game twice before without a win.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Central rebounds
Hunterdon Central saw another of the state's best junior running backs Friday night, but the outcome of their meeting with Elizabeth's Raymond Graham in a North 2 Group IV quarterfinal was dramatically different than its experience with Immaculata's Theo Riddick last week. Riddick had more than 200 yards and a touchdown in Immaculata's 16-6 win at Brooks Field in Somerville that snapped the Red Devils 11-game winning streak.
Graham, who led Elizabeth to a North 2 Grup IV title last year with a phenominal second half in the 14-9 win against Phillipsburg at Rutgers Stadium in the section final, was limited to 61 yards Friday night. His longest run was 10 yards. Graham is good, very good.
Central won the game 20-0, recording its fourth shutout of the season and blanking Elizabeth for the first time since the last game of the 2003 season, a 6-0 loss to Scotch Plains-Fanwood.
This game was more about Central's defense than anything else. The Red Devils had fumble recoveries from senior linebackers Matt Schenck, Mike Diehl and Tim Irwin and the versatile Derek Goreczny had an interception. Elizabeth's best chance to score came early in the fourth quarter with a first-and-10 from the Red Devil 10. But after a one-yard loss, Schenck recovered a Graham fumble.
Graham, who led Elizabeth to a North 2 Grup IV title last year with a phenominal second half in the 14-9 win against Phillipsburg at Rutgers Stadium in the section final, was limited to 61 yards Friday night. His longest run was 10 yards. Graham is good, very good.
Central won the game 20-0, recording its fourth shutout of the season and blanking Elizabeth for the first time since the last game of the 2003 season, a 6-0 loss to Scotch Plains-Fanwood.
This game was more about Central's defense than anything else. The Red Devils had fumble recoveries from senior linebackers Matt Schenck, Mike Diehl and Tim Irwin and the versatile Derek Goreczny had an interception. Elizabeth's best chance to score came early in the fourth quarter with a first-and-10 from the Red Devil 10. But after a one-yard loss, Schenck recovered a Graham fumble.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Scoring leaders
1. Barry Garrard (Piscataway) 20 touchdown runs for 120 points
2. Chris Jeskie (Bound Brook) 10 rushes, 1 blocked punt return, one reception, 24 PATs for 96 points
3. Anthony Taylor (Scotch Plains-Fanwood) 14 rushes for 84 points
4. Russell Anderson (New Providence) 9 runs, one punt return, one conversion, one reception for 68 points
5.Ted Delia (North Hunterdon) 10 runs, one kickoff for 66 points
5. Mike Little (Middlesex) 11 touchdown runs for 66 points
7. Yahad Cobb (North Plainfield) 8 runs, 14 PATS, one field goal for 65 points
8. Brian Thompson (Franklin) 8 rushes, one reception, one interception, one two-point conversion for 62 points
9. J.T. Tartacoff (Montgomery) 6 touchdown runs, four catches for 60 points
10. Chris Feuer (Bernards) 3 rushes, one kickoff return, one punt return, one conversion four receptions for 56 points
11. Chris Garcia (Montgomery) 9 touchdown receptions for 54 points
11.Deven Baker (Boud Brook) two rushes, one kickoff return, six receptions for 54 points
11. Brian Comerford (Delaware Valley) 8 rushes, one reception for 54 points
11. Derek Goreczny (Hunterdon Central) 7 receptions, one interception return, one punt return for 54 points
11. Theo Riddick (Immaculata) 9 touchdown runs for 54 points
16. Troy Russell (South Plainfield) four touchdown runs, one blocked punt return, one kickoff return, one catch, 10 PATs for 52 points
17, Jim Morrow (Watchung Hills) five touchdown runs, three field goals, 12 PATs for 51 points
18.Ricardo Johnson (Westfield) seven runs, one fumble return for 48 points
18. Brian Rock (Manville) six touchdown runs, one kickoff return, one reception for 48 points
18. Devon Saunders (Montgomery) 7 touchdown runs, one catch for 48 points
19. Scott Mahoney (Governor Livingston) one run, two receptions, 10 PATs, six field goals for 46 points
2. Chris Jeskie (Bound Brook) 10 rushes, 1 blocked punt return, one reception, 24 PATs for 96 points
3. Anthony Taylor (Scotch Plains-Fanwood) 14 rushes for 84 points
4. Russell Anderson (New Providence) 9 runs, one punt return, one conversion, one reception for 68 points
5.Ted Delia (North Hunterdon) 10 runs, one kickoff for 66 points
5. Mike Little (Middlesex) 11 touchdown runs for 66 points
7. Yahad Cobb (North Plainfield) 8 runs, 14 PATS, one field goal for 65 points
8. Brian Thompson (Franklin) 8 rushes, one reception, one interception, one two-point conversion for 62 points
9. J.T. Tartacoff (Montgomery) 6 touchdown runs, four catches for 60 points
10. Chris Feuer (Bernards) 3 rushes, one kickoff return, one punt return, one conversion four receptions for 56 points
11. Chris Garcia (Montgomery) 9 touchdown receptions for 54 points
11.Deven Baker (Boud Brook) two rushes, one kickoff return, six receptions for 54 points
11. Brian Comerford (Delaware Valley) 8 rushes, one reception for 54 points
11. Derek Goreczny (Hunterdon Central) 7 receptions, one interception return, one punt return for 54 points
11. Theo Riddick (Immaculata) 9 touchdown runs for 54 points
16. Troy Russell (South Plainfield) four touchdown runs, one blocked punt return, one kickoff return, one catch, 10 PATs for 52 points
17, Jim Morrow (Watchung Hills) five touchdown runs, three field goals, 12 PATs for 51 points
18.Ricardo Johnson (Westfield) seven runs, one fumble return for 48 points
18. Brian Rock (Manville) six touchdown runs, one kickoff return, one reception for 48 points
18. Devon Saunders (Montgomery) 7 touchdown runs, one catch for 48 points
19. Scott Mahoney (Governor Livingston) one run, two receptions, 10 PATs, six field goals for 46 points
Sunday, November 04, 2007
14
We had the number of schools which had qualified for the state sectional playoffs as 13 today, but we missed one. It's actually 14 -- one No. 1 seed -- Piscataway.
Here's the list:
North 2 Group I
New Providence (4) plays host to Secaucus (5)
North 2 Group II
Bernards (8) plays at Morris Hills (1)
North 2 Group III
South Plainfield (8) plays at Irvington (1)
Scotch Plains-Fanwood (4) plays host to Colonia (5)
North 2 Group IV
Piscataway (1) plays host to Woodbridge (8)
Westfield (4) plays host to Bayonne (5)
Franklin (3) plays host to Phillipsburg (6)
Hunterdon Central (2) plays host to Elizabeth (7)
Central Jersey Group IV
Montgomery (4) plays host to South Brunswick (5)
Central Jersey Group II
Governor Livingston (8) plays host to Holmdel (1)
North Plainfield (4) plays host to Rumson (5)
Delaware Valley (3) plays host to Carteret (6)
Central Group I
Bound Brook (7) plays at Keansburg (2)
Non Public III
Immaculata (2) plays host to DePaul (7)
Here's the list:
North 2 Group I
New Providence (4) plays host to Secaucus (5)
North 2 Group II
Bernards (8) plays at Morris Hills (1)
North 2 Group III
South Plainfield (8) plays at Irvington (1)
Scotch Plains-Fanwood (4) plays host to Colonia (5)
North 2 Group IV
Piscataway (1) plays host to Woodbridge (8)
Westfield (4) plays host to Bayonne (5)
Franklin (3) plays host to Phillipsburg (6)
Hunterdon Central (2) plays host to Elizabeth (7)
Central Jersey Group IV
Montgomery (4) plays host to South Brunswick (5)
Central Jersey Group II
Governor Livingston (8) plays host to Holmdel (1)
North Plainfield (4) plays host to Rumson (5)
Delaware Valley (3) plays host to Carteret (6)
Central Group I
Bound Brook (7) plays at Keansburg (2)
Non Public III
Immaculata (2) plays host to DePaul (7)
Big weekend
Funny scene in the pressbox at Brooks Field Friday night while Immaculata and Hunterdon Central were battling.
Former Immaculata High slugger Jack Cust, now with the Oakland A's, briefly stepped in to say hello, but had to leave since the place was a bit too crowded. Actually, somebody told those not working that they had to clear out. I would say 99.999 percent of the time, nothing is ever said. I don't believe the gentleman who said it, knew who was in the pressbox.
Immaculata's 16-6 win can be looked at a couple of ways.
If you're an Immaculata fan: Theo Riddick was simply too dominant -- he had more than 200 yards, much of them picked up in small, but killer doses behind the Spartan's vaunted offensive line. Also, the Spartan secondary did a terrific job of shutting down the Central passing game. Brad McAdam, Rich Dupras and John Mack had second half picks.
If you're a Central fan: Third and goal from the one in the third quarter, the Red Devils trailing 10-6. A procedure call pushes the Central back to the six. Central doesn't score. Immaculata, however, goes the other way and scores on a Riddick touchdown, 16-6. Also, Central made six turnovers. If it does that again against Elizabeth Friday night in a North 2 Group IV quarterfinal, there will be no semifinal round.
Former Immaculata High slugger Jack Cust, now with the Oakland A's, briefly stepped in to say hello, but had to leave since the place was a bit too crowded. Actually, somebody told those not working that they had to clear out. I would say 99.999 percent of the time, nothing is ever said. I don't believe the gentleman who said it, knew who was in the pressbox.
Immaculata's 16-6 win can be looked at a couple of ways.
If you're an Immaculata fan: Theo Riddick was simply too dominant -- he had more than 200 yards, much of them picked up in small, but killer doses behind the Spartan's vaunted offensive line. Also, the Spartan secondary did a terrific job of shutting down the Central passing game. Brad McAdam, Rich Dupras and John Mack had second half picks.
If you're a Central fan: Third and goal from the one in the third quarter, the Red Devils trailing 10-6. A procedure call pushes the Central back to the six. Central doesn't score. Immaculata, however, goes the other way and scores on a Riddick touchdown, 16-6. Also, Central made six turnovers. If it does that again against Elizabeth Friday night in a North 2 Group IV quarterfinal, there will be no semifinal round.
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