Saturday, September 19, 2009

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

Jarrod Diaz making the interception with 1:14 left in the game that gave Elmwood Park its first win over Pompton Lakes since 1987.

POMPTON LAKES – Elmwood Park’s Jarrod Diaz did not know the exact history of the one-sided rivalry between Elmwood Park and Pompton Lakes, but the junior knew it had been a long time since Elmwood Park beat the Cardinals. On the other hand, Elmwood Park head coach Garry Luciani knew the history first-hand being he was on the Pompton Lakes sideline the last time the Crusaders beat them in a game. Luciani knew if his Crusaders were finally going to break the long drought it would come down to one play, one defensive stop.

With the game on the line, Luciani wanted none other than his top playmaker, Diaz, to secure the victory.

He did just that with a leaping interception on the Pompton Lakes’ 25-yard line with 1:14 to play to clinch Elmwood Park’s first victory over Pompton Lakes since 1987, a 29-28 triumph at Herschfield Park.

The game had shootout written all over it from the start. On a keeper, Diaz went 70 yards on the first play from scrimmage as Elmwood Park grabbed a 7-0 lead. After snuffing out a fake punt, the Crusaders took advantage of a short field as Edwin Cabrera capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown burst to give them a 13-0 lead just three minutes into the contest.

Shawn Patane got Popmpton on the board with 5-yard score.

“We got ourselves in a hole and we had to climb out of it,” said Pompton Lakes head coach Scott Mahoney. “I have always relied on my defense to step up and help us win games. We didn’t do our job in the first, especially early on. We did a real nice job in the second half, but it took a lot out of us to get back in the game.”

At 5-5, 145 pounds Shawn Patane was the smallest player listed on either team’s roster, but when Pompton Lakes needed him to provide an offensive spark, he came up big. He swept around the right side for a five-yard touchdown to get the Cardinals on the scoreboard.

On the ensuing possession, Diaz broke off another long touchdown run, this one from 69 yards out. Patane answered right back with another short touchdown run to trim the lead to 19-14 and the shootout was on; including three touchdowns scored in the final three minutes of the half.

Pompton Lakes captain Paul Mason returned a punt and went untouched up the left sideline for a 45-yard score to give Pompton Lakes its first lead, 21-19.

EP's Edwin Cabrera scored two TDs for the second straight week.

Diaz’s play-action pass to Cabrera for a 31-yard scoring strike put the Crusaders back in front, but not for long. Pompton Lakes quarterback Nick Sponzilli lofted a pass just over the outstretched hands of Diaz and into a streaking Mason’s arms up the sideline for a 47-yard touchdown with 38 seconds to play. Larry Gelok tacked on the last of his four extra-point tries to cap an entertaining first half and give the Cardinals a 28-26 lead.

“To score (26) points in a half and still be down two at halftime is not a good feeling,” said Luciani. “Pompton Lakes did a great job offensively in the first half. They came out in a few sets we hadn’t seen and we needed to make some adjustments at halftime. More importantly, we had to wrap up in the open field better in the second half and we did that.”

While the first half was dominated by offense and big plays from both teams, the second half was a defensive struggle with neither team able to reach paydirt.

Pompton's Paul Mason went over 200 total yards and scored two touchdowns.

The score remained the same heading into the fourth quarter when Elmwood Park finally mounted a drive. Diaz hit Cabrera on a third-and-15 to keep a drive alive and, although the Cardinals made a defensive stand deep in their own territory with two big tackles on second and third down from Brian Minarovich, they would give up their lead.

Brian Conroy split the uprights on a 21-yard field goal to put Elmwood Park in front, 29-28, with 6:43 to play.

Pompton Lakes had two chances in the final five minutes to get into field goal range, but was unable to cash in either one. A dropped pass on a third-and-seven, and then a huge hit on fourth down by Cabrera gave the Crusaders the ball back.

The Cardinals forced a three-and-out to get one last shot at a game-winning drive. Mason was a nightmare for the Crusader defense all game and got a step on Diaz on a deep post. Sponzilli aired one out for Mason, but the speedy Diaz closed quickly. He made a leaping over-the-shoulder interception to end the threat and seal Elmwood Park’s first victory over Pompton Lakes in 22 years.

Anthony DeFreitas helped Elmwood Park get off to a 2-0 start.

Diaz had over 200 total yards with five tackles and two interceptions to lead Elmwood Park (2-0). Cabrera scored two touchdowns for the second straight week. The Crusaders will try to stay unbeaten and stay on track for their first playoff berth in over a decade next week against Hawthorne.

Mason did it all Pompton Lakes, which fell to 0-2. He led the Cardinals also going over 200 total yards and two touchdowns, along with six tackles and an interception on defense. Patane also reach the end zone for a second straight week for the Cardinals, who will try to get in the win column next week against Waldwick/Midland Park.

After 22 years of losing to Pompton Lakes, Elmwood Park finally broke the streak with hard work under the tutelage of Luciani and his coaching staff. Luciani is elated for his kids to enjoy the winning feeling against a team that beat up on them for more than two decades. That said, he still remembers vividly that game in 1987.

“I remember that game like it was yesterday and with good reason,” said Luciani. “Elmwood Park’s nose guard, Anthony DiPasquale (who is now a police officer in Elmwood Park), just killed us. I had nightmares about that game for a while. I’m so proud of the way we hung in there down the stretch today. Pompton Lakes is a great football program and their coaching staff does a great job. To go from where we were a few years ago to where we are now is a huge plus for our program moving forward. We can finally put this streak behind us.”

FOR MORE PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT OR TO BUY A COLLECTOR'S PRINT OF THIS GAME STORY, PLEASE VISIT 4FeetGrafix.com.