Sunday,
November 8, 2015
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
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Tommy Putzello helped lead Glen Rock to a 21-0 halftime lead before it pulled its starters and eventually fell to Garfield, 40-21, on Saturday. |
GLEN ROCK – After a long week of film study, practice, and intense preparation, the scene at the end of a high school football game is often that reflects the hard work put in. The winning team is filled with adrenaline after seeing their week of hard work pay off; while the losing team knows they have to go back to the drawing board. However, there are certain instances where the roles are reversed. When the final whistle ended Saturday’s game between Garfield and Glen Rock, the final score hardly told the story.
In technical terms, Garfield scored 40 unanswered points and secured a first-round home game in the upcoming state tournament with a 40-21 win in Glen Rock.
Having already locked up the top seed in the North 1 Group 2, Glen Rock came into the game knowing, regardless of the score, that the starters on both sides of the ball were only going to play the first half.
“We knew we were the number one seed for states, but we wanted to stay sharp after coming off of a bye week,” said Glen Rock’s two-way lineman and senior captain Mike O’Hagan. “We had a tough schedule this season and we’re battle tested. We’re getting healthy, we’re staying healthy and we want to keep on rolling. As long as we play tough, play mean, and keep executing we’ll be ready for next week.”
The Panthers looked sharp throughout the first half with quarterback Matt Schlett having all day to throw in the pocket virtually every time he dropped back. On the Panthers’ second drive of the game, Schlett hit his big target, 6-foot-5 Tommy Pulzello, on 13 and 19 yard passes to move quickly into Boilermaker territory. Schlett completed all three passes he attempted on the drive with the last of the three finding paydirt. On a long out route, he threw a strike to Robbie Ray at the pilon for a 17-yard TD with Ray tacking on the point after for a 7-0 lead.
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Alex Victorino led the rally that saw Garfield earn a home game in next week's state tournament opener. |
Garfield had a chance to answer right back, but Glen Rock’s Jack Cinquegrana put an end to the threat by picking off Garfield quarterback Alex Victorino in the end zone. The Panthers’ offense picked up right where it left off with the big, physical line leading the way. This time it was on the ground creating holes for sophomore Ryan Morley. He had three runs of 10 yards or more on the drive before Schlett made another pinpoint pass to someone in the Ray family. He hit Tim Ray in the back of the end zone for a six-yard TD pass and a 14-0 lead.
Pulzello has terrorized opposing defenses all year along the flank. On Saturday it was on the other side of the ball where the senior made an impact. On the first play after the Boilermakers recovered a fumble, Pulzello stepped in front of a pass and went untouched 46 yards to the end zone with 1:25 to go in the second quarter to give Glen Rock a 21-0 lead at the half. The Panthers were firmly in control of the game, but, with the outcome to Glen Rock, the coaching staff elected to pull the starters and give them extra rest for next week’s first-round state tournament game.
Needing a win to get a first-round home game in the North 1, Group 3 state tournament and trailing by three touchdowns, the Boilermakers understandably kept their starters in and quickly made up the deficit against essentially Glen Rock’s JV team.
Tyler Montanye ran in a 13-yard touchdown to get Garfield on the scoreboard. Aveon Irving scored on the Boilermakers next three possessions. He had over 100 yards rushing in the second half, including a nifty 18-yard run to give the Boilermakers a 26-21 lead going into the fourth quarter. Irving tacked on another highlight TD jaunt, and Jamani Jones capped the scoring with a five-yard TD run.
“We were fortunate that they decided to pull some guys for the second half,” said Garfield head coach Jeff DeVito. “I’m not happy at all with the way we played in the first half and we’re lucky that Glen Rock did not have anything to play for in the second half. “
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Robbie Ray scored the first TD for Glen Rock, which will host Kittatinny in their first playoff game next week. |
Schlett completed 11 of 20 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns for Glen Rock (6-2). The Panthers will host eighth-seeded Kittatinny in the first round next week.
When the final whistle was blown, there was no celebration for Garfield despite the win and having locked up a first-round home state playoff game. As the fourth seed, the Boilermakers will host No. 5 seed and two-time defending North 1, Group 3 state champion Sparta next Friday night.
DeVito knows that his team needs to completely overhaul their approach if they are to keep their season alive.
“We have to come out with a better effort against Sparta next week because there isn’t going to be a second half like this,” added DeVito. “If we get our run game going, block and tackle the way we should then we can certainly play with anyone. We have to come prepared this week in practice and focus on the fundamentals. We worked hard to get a home state game and we achieved that, now we have to go out and do our job.”
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