The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 26

D-4UjrdayOctobe1989THE COURIERjEWS LOCALBASKETBALL xpuogon or Centra cm the kicker. Voorhees used the opportunity to run in two points, which Cahill was successful in doing. One more Voorhees touchdown would tie. The extra point could win it for the now 0-3 team. Central scored.

Voorhees lost. It was a 46-yard run by Vergalito that sealed Voorhees' fate with 2:05 left in the came. to Jason Sand 8:11 into the game. Charlie Getz's kick was good for the 7-7 tie. Not to be beat, Central drove down-field from its 33 to the Voorhees end zone in its second possession of the game.

Capping the 11-play drive was a 24-yard pass from Curnow to Scott Green with three minutes left in the first quarter. Curnow's point after made it a 14-7 Central. The defenses finally kicked in during the second quarter, as Central was held to one score, a 19-yard Cox run at the 9:06 mark. Curnow's extra point kick failed, giving Voorhees a chance to take the lead. "We didn't hit like we did last week Hunterdon Central's total offense 310 yards was its best of the season.

Junior running back Mark Vergalito ran for 129 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore Phil Cox covered 88 yards and ran in one TD. Junior quarterback Brian Curnow completed four passes in eight attempts for 73 yards and a touchdown. "We just wanted to block some people and run the ball," Hunterdon Central coach Jim Meert said. Voorhees' total offense 322 yards was also its finest output of the season.

Senior quarterback Phil Ries passed for 271 yards, completing 15-of-31 passes. Mark Cahill, a junior running back, led a less-explo sive ground attack than Central's with 54 yards. "They kept coming back and coming back and coming back," Meert said. "He (Ries) threw the ball well. They're great.

Ries is great. They ran the right routes, the right depths. They've got some skilled players." Both teams scored on their opening drives. Central started on its 31, running seven plays to the Voorhees 15, where Vergalito ran the final 15 yards for a 7-0 lead as Curnow's extra point kick was good. Voorhees didn't waste any time in playing catch-up, scoring on its first play of the game, a 64-yard Ries pass (in the 14-7 loss to Notre Dame)," Meert said of the decline in defensive effort.

After the intermission, Cahill's one-yard scoring run and Getz's kick narrowed Central's lead to 20-14 with 7:43 remaining in the third quarter. But Central pulled away on its next possession, driving 68 yards to the Voorhees five where Vergalito ran in the score with 1:15 left in the quarter. A two-point pass from Curnow to Green put Central ahead, 28-14, but the home team wasn't finished yet. With 3:39 left in the game, Ries threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Pat White. Getz's extra point failed, but Central was cited for roughing By STEPHEN JOHNSON Courier-News Staff Writer LEBANON TOWNSHIP Hunterdon Central and Voorhees, two win-less football teams, were searching for their offenses going into last night's Mid-State conference battle.

Central got the win, 35-22, but both squads found their scoring potential. The proof is in the numbers. Not bad for 1-2 Central, a team that counted on defense to stay in its first two games. The same goes for Voorhees, which demonstrated inability on both sides of the football in its opening games. Lights go out (literally) on Middlesex, 1 9-0 Piscaiaway loses a game of inches, 14-13 By MATT ROMANOSKI Courier-News Staff Writer ROSELLE PARK If you are looking for one play that typifies the Middlesex football team's losing streak which hit 16 games after last night's 19-0 loss to Roselle Park you could've found it late in the third quarter of loss No.

16. Roselle Park was clinging to a 13-0 lead, but Middlesex was driving. Then, the key play on fourth and inches. Middlesex quarterback Dave Ho-peck brought his offense to the line of scrimmage. Then the lights went out at Shaw Field.

Literally. They came on again 15 minutes later, and play resumed. But the damage had been done. The Middlesex momentum, which up to that point had been on a high, had all but fizzled. The delay also gave the Roselle Park defense a chance to beef up the middle of the line.

When play resumed, Hopek's keeper up the middle was stuffed. "We went for it and missed," Middlesex coach Paul Murphy said after the game, "We had it (the momentum) going, and were ready to run the play, and they went out. It gave them a chance to go over some things. "By the time they came on again, 1 ir- HUNTERDON CENTRAL VOORHEES -I SCORING FIRST QUARTER: HC Mark Veroallto IS run (Brian Curnow kick); Jaion Sand 64 past from Phil Rial (Charlki Gall kick); HC Scoll Grim 24 from Curnow (Curnow kick). SECOND QUARTER: HC Phil Co It run (kick failed).

THIRD QUARTER: Marc Cahill 1 run (Gall kick); HC Vergalito 5 run (Graan pals from Curnow). FOURTH QUARTER: Pal White 4 oast Irom Rlei (Cahill run); HC Vergalito 46 run (Curnow kick). game, taking over at the Central 49. Grant was able to complete three passes during that time-span, with Piscataway out of timeouts. When Grant hit wideout Tim Weaver for a 12 yard gain to the Central 24, no time showed on the clock, as the Madison Central team stormed onto the field, seemingly with a win.

But a personal foul penalty for a late hit gave Piscataway, new life, when game officials stepped off a 15-yard penalty to the Central nine. Piscataway sent out its field goal unit, with no time showing on the clock. In the confusion, Piscataway head coach Tom Higgins said after the game that officials blew whistles after the ball was spotted for a 26-yard field goal attempt by Earl Wilson, causing confusion. Thompson again had trouble handling the snap on the field goal attempt, and Central blocked on the game's final play. PISCATAWAY MADISON 6 0 -13 11 0-14 SCORING Pmt quartan Nona Second quarter Nate Grant 1 run (Earl Wilton kick); MC Brian Donnelly 3 run (Cotmo Amato kick) TNrd querter Tyrone Motley 6 run (kick failed); MC-DwIghl Llge i run (Amato kick) Fourth quarter.

None Bound Brook intercepted a Bound Brook pass to give North Plainfield a first down at the Bound Brook 40-yard line. A 6-foot-l junior, Newsome turned around to play offense and hit Szatkowski with an 18-yard pass, then followed that with an eight-yard completion to Szatkowski again. As quarterback, Newsome finished the game with six completions in 15 attempts, and when it was over, he felt the victory would prove to be an important one in the North Plainfield season. "We were very confident," he said. "That's two wins in a row, and that helps to wipe out the bad beginning." That bad beginning was a 13-9 loss to Pingry in the opening game of the season, followed by last week's 30-13 victory over Middlesex.

It's been years since North Plain-field won two games in a row, finishing the past two seasons with 1-8 records, after going 3-6 in 1986. "We feel this year could be different," Newsome said. The challenge for North Plainfield continues next Saturday at Hillside. As for Bound Brook (1-2), it's on to Dayton Regional next Saturday, trying to find an offense to go with Cobb, who kept his team in last night's game nearly all by himself. NORTH PLAINFIELD BOUND BROOK 0 7 0 0 7 0 0 1 1 SCORING Pktt quarter None.

Second quartan NP Robert Lake 2 run (Joe Newiomo kick). Third quarter; None. Fourth quarter BB Safety; chated Newtome out of end zona on erranl punl map. against Somerville followed by a 44-yard footrace won by senior tailback James Fox who high-stepped it into the end zone to bring the score to within one. Gray's pass was deflected by Tom Eaton.

But East was not to be denied, using 16 plays to cover 77 yards and another touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter on a 3-yard run by Parham. Quarterback Brian Evans found Parham in the end zone for the two-point conversion. "Anytime you beat Somerville, it's a good win," Savage said. "Somerville gave us a few opportunities and we took advantage of them." "They beat us in the pits," Dubiel said. "We play well week by week; any mistakes we have seen so far in films have been improvable problems." For the East team, the victory was especially sweet.

"We're just trying to rebound after the game against Franklin," McClelland said. "We're coming together as a team and that's what we need to win." I I IAST SOMiRVILLI I 1 0 I 1 a SCORINO Pmt quartan BRI Kevin Ferraro i run (mm incomplete). Second quarter I Ball mapped through end tone tor latetv; BRI Bill Meeklnet 24 FS. Third quarter Jamet Foi 3t run (pan Incomplete). Fourth querten BRI Ken Perhem 3 run (Parham from Brian Event).

tisrx tiiT" f4i A A everybody in the stadium knew we were going to run the quarterback sneak." The loss dropped Middlesex to while Roselle Park improved to 3-0. Early in the second quarter, Middlesex had a chance to get on the board first. Hopeck and wide-receiver Jeff Roy put on a passing clinic, teaming up through the air for gains of 11, 22, and 22 again to put the ball on the Roselle Park four. But two bobbled snaps put Middlesex in a hole it couldn't get out of. After the game, Murphy had nothing but praise for his sophomore quarterback and his junior tight end.

"Dave is a bright kid," he said. "A real quality kid. I tell everybody that he's a unique sophomore. By that I mean that he can handle things that other sophomore's couldn't. "Jeff Roy is another player who is just outstanding.

He has a great set of hands and plays with great intensity. The two of them are going to make an outstanding pair." But it takes more than just two players to win in football, and Middlesex, as a team, was playing the game of its season. It held the Roselle Park offense in check, and had actually out-gained their heavily favored opponents, in the first half. That was before a Middlesex drive failed late in the second quarter, and "I'm a player's coach, too," Fitch said. "They're the players and I'm the coach." For Scrabis, last year's Ivy League Player of the Year, the coach's stern reputation is the least of his worries.

"I got a phone call on September 11 inviting me to camp," Scrabis said. "I remember the date because I was just about to leave for a trip to Europe. I couldn't pass this up. I'm just here to play and see what happens. Europe will always be there." Missing from yesterday's camp opener was Buck Williams, the team's lone all-star who toiled for mostly-unsuccessful Nets teams for eight seasons.

He was traded to Portland in June in exchange for Sam Bowie and a first-round pick in the 1989 draft, which the Nets used to select point guard Mookie Blaylock. Bowie has been often injured since he entered the league in 1984-85, but he said yesterday that he was 100 percent now, and anxious to live up to the "potential" label that's been on him since he was selected ahead of Michael Jordan in the '84 draft. At 7-foot-l, Bowie is listed as the backup center to 7-foot-l Joe Barry Carroll, but Bowie said he's heard it was forced to punt. But only 10 men checked into the punt team, and the free Roselle Park defender, Chris Powers, raced in to block Roger Nep-ton's punt. Two plays later, Roselle Park quarterback.

Ray Jankowski found half back Jason Lualhati over the middle for a 16-yard touchdown. "That blocked punt had to be one of the turning points of the game," Roselle Park John Wagner said. "That, and of course, when we stopped them on fourth down." Murphy agreed with Wagner's assessment. "We had them even until then," he said. "Then we go in with only ten men on the punt team.

It's a shame because they played well." Roselle Park added single scores in the third and fourth quarters, and the streak was at 16. But even Wagner saw a different kind of Middlesex team. "You have to give them a lot of credit," Wagner said. "Their kids really played hard. Instead of sulking, Middlesex came out fired up and ready to play." MIDDLESEX ROSELLI PARK 0 0 0 0 6 7 0 -o SCORING Pint quorton None.

Secend quarter RP Jaun Lualhati lf-yard mm from Ray Jenkowtkl (kick felled) Third quarter RP Mlka WIMut 4-vard run (Tom Bavlock kick) Paurm quarter RP WIHouj o-vord run (kick failed) some speculation about a New Jersey version of a twin towers on the court. "I'm a very competitive person and I'm sure he is, too," Bowie said. "I'm coming to camp with the idea that I'm going to be a starter. That's the only way you can approach things. If we both end up on the court at the same time, that could be fun." Of course, fun is something the Nets haven't had in years.

Last season, in Reed's only full year as coach, the team finished fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 26-56 record. Only the expansion Charlotte Hornets were worse. Fitch wouldn't make any predictions for wins and losses, but promised to put a competitive team on the court every night something that would be quite an achievement at the Mcadowlands. Forward Roy Hinson, who led the team in scoring, minutes played and blocked shots last year, figures to be the key man again this year, and enjoyed yesterday's media attention that, in the past, would have gravitated to Williams. Assured of spots on this year's team are: Blaylock, Bowie, Carroll, Hinson, Lester Conner, Dennis Hop- sluggish offensively in its first two games.

"I feel great," Grant said. "Our offense is getting better." With the score tied at 7-7, Piscataway put together a 10-play, 65-. yard drive in the third quarter. Grant's 13-yard scramble on a third down and 13 from the Madison Central 32-yard line kept the drive alive on the first series of downs. Tyrone Mosley broke through the middle for the touchdown from six yards out, with 3:38 left in the quarter.

But Earl Wilson's extra point attempt failed, when holder Reg Thompson couldn't handle the snap. Madison Central, however, stormed right back on its ensuing possesion. Quarterback Brian Donnelly had the big play when he ran 52 yards from the Central 41, to the Piscataway seven. Four plays later, running back Dwight Lige scooted in from the five on a fourth-down option pitch. Cosmo Amato converted the point after kick, giving Central a 14-13 lead with 1:16 left in the third quarter.

Twice in the fourth quarter, Central stopped Piscataway on downs, once inches shy of a first down. But Piscataway got one final break with 32 seconds left in the NORTH: Tops Continued from Page D-1 yards and another of 14 yards, but couldn't come up with the most dramatic yard of the night. It happened in the fourth quarter, with North Plainfield leading, 7-0, and less than six minutes remaining in the game. Cobb ran the ball seven straight times to bring up a fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Again, Cobb got the call and dove over the line but was bombarded in mid-air by a quartet of defenders and fell inches short of the goal line.

North Plainfield took over from there and punted on a fourth down minutes later, but Bound Brook fumbled away the kick and North Plain-field's Duane Szatkowski recovered at the North Plainfield 34. Two penalties and a quarterback sack later, North Plainfield's Joe Newsome was set to boot another punt, but the snap sailed over his head and into the end zone. Newsome, trailed by a handful of Bound Brook players, alertly scooped the ball up and ran out of the end zone for a safety. "We had just talked to him (New-some) about a bad snap," Gage said. "When it happened, he did just what he was supposed to, but to do it under pressure like that with the game on the line, that shows some nice maturity." Newsome, the team's quarterback and free safety, also played a key role in getting North Plainfield on the scoreboard back in the first half.

Late in the first quarter, Newsome EAST: Rebounds Continued from Page D-1 "I usually don't run the ball that often," McClelland said. "It felt good." East (2-1) ran the ball at will, gaining 235 yards on the ground compared to just 35 passing. On the team's first possession of the game, East ate up time by driving 55 yards. It stalled at fourth-and-1 at the seven when Parham ran into a wall of Somerville defenders for a 3-yard loss. A high Somerville snap on a punt was recovered by East's Dennis Foley at the Somerville 6-yard line, and East was back in business.

Three plays and a 'Ville offsides call later, senior fullback Kevin Ferraro took the ball in from the 2 with second left In the first quarter. The conversion pass intended for McClelland was slapped away by Karim Clarke. Somerville (0-3) got on the board in the second quarter when East center Jim Lamberson snapped the ball out of the end zone. East, however, was able to widen the margin to 9-2 when Bill Meekings kicked a 24-yard field, goal as time ran out in the first half. Larry Dubiel's Somerville team showed a little razzle-dazzle in the third quarter when quarterback Troy Gray scampered for a 24-yard By GEORGE LITTLER Courier-News Staff Writer OLD BRIDGE TWP.

Nate Grant refused to give in. He knew he had just played the game of his life a super game against Madison Central High School, the No. 1 rated school in the state in 1988, and the proud owners of a 20-game winning streak. But Grant also knew his Pis-catway High School football team came up on the short end of a 14-13 thriller last night at Vince Lom-bardi Field. The loss dropped Piscataway to 0-3, while Madison Central improved to 3-0 in 1989.

The win stretched Madison Central's winning streak to 21 consecutive games. The school last lost to Co-Ionia, 10-7, in 1987. From the quarterback spot for Piscataway, Grant saw to it that his team's offense could move the football against a powerful opponent. Throughout the night, Grant scrambled out of the passing pocket for big gains and key plays. He finished with 99 yards rushing on 12 carries and one touchdown.

He made sure his team moved the ball last night, after Piscataway was i to iimiaMiC tum THW! 'I got a phone call on September 1 1 inviting me to camp. I remember the date because I was just about to leave for a trip to Europe. I couldn't pass this up. I'm just here to play and see what happens. Europe will always be Bob Scrabis son, Chris Morris, Charles Shackle-ford, Stanley Brundy and Purvis Short.

Among the others looking to hang on are: Scrabis, Rick Carlisle, Jaren Jackson, Bill Jones, Charlie Jones, Paul Maley, Anthony Mason, Leo Rautins and Jay Taylor. IS I II Courir-Nwi photo by Dean Curtis Former Princeton star, Bob Scrabis, far left, joins veteran center Sam Bowie, far right, and rookie Paul Maley, center, on the bench during yesterday's Nets training camp at Jadwin Gym. For Scrabis, Europe can wait awhile By CARL BARBATI Courier-News Staff Writer PRINCETON The last time anybody saw Bob Scrabis, it was on national television last March, when he nearly led the Princeton University basketball team to a miracle victory over Georgetown in the NCAA Tournament. Yesterday, on the floor of his beloved Jadwin Gym, Scrabis began an even more unlikely challenge: making the NBA. He was one of the longest of the half-dozen longshots to show up for the start of the New Jersey Nets preseason training camp.

New coach Bill Fitch opened camp yesterday with 19 players, one less than expected since point guard John Bagley was traded to the Boston Celtics on Thursday for future draft picks. Fitch brings 18 years of NBA head coaching experience to New Jersey, including one world championship and two coach-of-the-year awards. He also brings a reputation as a disciplinarian, casting a contrast with former coach Willis Reed, who was regarded as a "player's coach.".