The Central New Jersey Home News from New Brunswick, New Jersey • 26

PAGE BIO THE HOME SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1995 SCHOLASTIC Balanced MiddJetown S. too much for Piscataway Alexander lifts R. Prep STAFF REPORT Junior guard Liz Alexander recorded a triple-double with 20 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists and garnered MVP honors to lead the Rutgers Prep girls basketball team to a a I Y4 trK vd Antonelli kicked a 26-yard field goal t6" make it 14-10. Tactikos' effective running in the first half gave Middletown South a chance to open things up in the second and it didn't waste the chance, as it showed the Chiefs the entire passing repertoire. The Chiefs knew the main target was Tom Lopusznick but they couldn't solve the myriad of Eagle formations.

Middletown South used double- and triple-wideout formations to force single coverage and Piscataway was unable to put the clamps on the senior receiver. A fumble by Dejon Welcome (21 carries, 100 yards) set up Middletown -South at the Chiefs 26. On the next play, Lopusznick ran a slant pattern out of a two-receiver set toward the right sideline where his brother put the ball on the money for a touchdown to make it 21-10. A Ll 1 Piscataway's Xavier Motley (96) and Brian Ferguson to try bat down a pass by Middletown South quarterback Jim Lopusznick in the fourth quarter of yesterday's Central Jersey Group IV final. Missed opportunities come back to haunt Chiefs in final By BRIAN CARROLL STAFF CORRESPONDENT EAST RUTHERFORD With an offensive weapon like Dejon Welcome, the Piscataway High School football team seemed like a lock to score a touchdown in a goal-line situation.

After all, Welcome had scored a team-leading 14 TDs for an offense that was averaging 25.1 points per game and boasted a 78.6 percent conversion rate (22-of-28 attempts) inside an opponent's red zone. But that was before the Chiefs went up against Middletown South. Piscataway was denied six points by the Eagles on three occasions yester 3 i peof edt By STEVE COFIELD STAFF WRITER EAST RUTHERFORD There were times when the Piscataway High School defense must have peered across the l.ine and wondered if this team with Dallas Cowboys replica uniforms was just a high school team. The confusion wasn't over the talent or abilities of the Middletown South athletes, just their complicated offensive package. Tailback Peter Tactikos rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns while quarterback Jim Lopusznick hooked up with his brcciier Tom for two scores as Middletown South downed Piscataway 28-10 in the Central Jersey Group IV final yesterday at Giants Stadium, its fourth title since 1988.

"We knew we had to stop Nos. 17 (WR Tom Lopusznick) and 23 (TB Tactikos)," said Piscataway Joe Kuro-nyi. "But the kid in retrospect who really hurt us was the QB (Jim Lopusznick). He's the one who had to read the coverages. He did an excellent job." Lopusznick finished up 6-of-13 for 108 yards.

His performance reflected the rest of the season in which he amassed 22 touchdowns and only two possessions for the Chiefs (9-2) that spanned the final three quarters. They had first downs starting at the Middle-town South 12-, 11- and 6-yard lines, but only came away with Dan Anto-nelli's 25-yard field goal near the end the first half. The first one hinted at what was to come. Down 14-7, Piscataway embarked on an impressive 16-play, 68-yard scoring drive which culminated with Antonelli's field goal. Welcome made a big play with 7-yard run on a fourth-and-four from the Middle-town South 17, but the Chiefs failed to fully capitalize on it.

The next three plays resulted in a 4-yard run and a pair of incompletions. Antonelli barely Summit did score on the Crusaders' first-team defense, capitalizing on a home run ball following a turnover. Schroeder found Kevin Schmidt on flea-flicker play in the end zone for a 43-yard touchdown pass, as Schmidt outjumped defensive back Greg Lay-den for the ball. That score brought Summit within 14-6 late in the second quarter. Layden would get his revenge, intercepting Schroeder on a deep pass in the third quarter.

Schroeder completed 6-of-15 passes and was hurried by Redziniak Co. for much of the day. Summit would cross midfield just once in the second half. "Ray Redziniak is a great athlete and was just a warrior out there today," Taylor said. "Defensively, we made our plays and changed up our blitzing package.

Our linemen played great and Frankie (Mentzel) was just a force at linebacker." A 28 10 interceptions. But it was Tactikos who set the table for the Lopusznicks. His hard running staked Middletown South to a 14-10 halftime lead. Piscataway jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a 66-yard run by on a counter by Gerry Wilson with 50 seconds left in the opening quarter. Middletown South went away from its classic sweep and decided to run right at the Chiefs' defense between the tackles.

Tactikos made it work. A 14-yard run by Tactikos with 11:23 left in the half tied the game at 7-7. Tactikos then put the Eagles in front for good on the next possession as he ripped off a 57-yard run behind the blocking of 6-foot-5, 275-pound left tackle Timm Howard. Piscataway had a golden opportunity to tie the game late in the half but the Middletown South defense stiffened. Piscataway got to the Eagle 12 with 42 seconds left.

A 4-yard counter by Shareef Braxton got the Chiefs to the 8, where they bogged down. Dan cleared the crossbar with an end-over-end kick to cut the deficit to 14-10, but that was as close as Piscataway would come. At the beginning of the third quarter, the Eagles (11-0) turned a Welcome fumble into a one-play, 17-yard scoring drive with quarterback Jim Lopusznick passing to brother Tom for the TD and a 21-10 lead. The Chiefs were still in it, but they were stymied twice on fourth-and-goal, once in the third quarter and again in the fourth. The first one saw Piscataway follow a first-and-10 at the Middletown South 11 with runs for 2, 6, and minus-2 yards.

Defenders Sean Coffey, David Nagel and Tom DiNa- Unbeaten Johnson By TOM DE MARTINI STAFF WRITER SUMMIT Is a sectional championship game a good time to throw a new wrinkle into your offensive scheme? Only if it works. Johnson Regional High School capped off its first unbeaten football season yesterday behind the rushing of senior Joe Aleffi, who carried 23 times for 124 yards and one touchdown, as the third-seeded Crusaders downed top-seeded Summit 21-6 to take the North Jersey, Section 2, Group II crown at Tatlock Field. Johnson coach Bob Taylor felt Summit would stack the defensivt deck, looking to control powerful running back Frank Mentzel, and adjusted his game plan accordingly. "We felt they were loading up to stop Frankie and we're smart enough and not pig-headed enough to keep trying that," Taylor said. "All year long, we kept saying to the guys that your time may be tomorrow and to be ready." It was Aleffi's time, but before he could even touch the football, the Crusaders needed to make a very early goal-line stand on defense.

That set the tone for the afternoon. John Brown took the opening kick-off for Summit, burst through a middle wedge and went 85 yards, with the saving tackle made just outside the Johnson 10. The defense, as it has all year, came up big, stopping Kawon Foushee for no gain on third down from the 2 and quarterback Steve Schroeder on a fourth-down sneak. The Johnson offense took care of business the second time it got the football, with Aleffi carrying three times for 36 yards on a 10-play, 71-yard drive. Quarterback Dan Lued-deke kept for 14 on an option, bringing the ball to the Summit 6 and Mentzel went the final 3 yards, giving Johnson a 6-0 lead with 2:32 left in the first quarter.

"We relied on Frankie all season long and we knew they were going to go after him. The coaches planned some new plays and the linemen opened some great holes." Aleffi said. One of those plays was a makeshift draw, where Lueddeke faked a screen MIDDLETOWN SOUTH PISCATAWAY Soonpllw 62-29 win over Lacor-daire in the title game of ROUNDUP the Gill-St. Bernard's Tip-Off Classic yesterday in Gladstone. Jackie Sienkiewicz added 17 points for the Argonauts.

TIMOTHY CHRISTIAN 60, CALVARY 49: Desiree Lothian scored seven of her nine points in the final period when Timothy Christian outscored Calvary, 20-12, en route to a victory in the championship game of the Calvary Lansdale Christian School Tournament in Lansdale, Pa. Tourney MVP Erin Fitzgerald recorded 11 points and seven rebounds for Timothy Christian. Faith Torres led the winners with 15 points. BOYS PEDDIE 55, RUTGERS PREP 49: Despite a 23-point, 10-rebound, six-block performance by 6-foot-5 junior Joe Ziz-newski, Rutgers Prep lost to Peddie in the opening game for both teams. Jeremy Kenny added 16 points for the Argonauts, while Rutgers Prep graduate Jaime Jiminez recorded 15 points for Peddie.

TIMOTHY CHRISTIAN 38, BAPTIST 36: Rob Coords hit two free throws with 20 seconds left to give Timothy Christian a 38-34 lead, then Baptist hit a shot at the buzzer to shape the final score as the Tigers won the consolation game of the Calvary Landsdale Christian School Tournament. Coors finished with 15 points. SPECIAL Continued from page B9 "We believed that the only way we could be stopped was if we stopped ourselves," Jordan said. "A little of that happened today." Neptune, with last year's kick return fresh in its memory, punted and kicked the ball away from Jordan most of the game. "There was no way we wanted to kick the ball to No.

40 Gordan)," said Neptune coach John Amabile. But the Franklin speedster looked like he would get his hands on the ball, with some room to run, when Neptune was forced to punt with the wind 30 seconds into the final quarter. But, with the ball on the Scarlet Fliers' 29, the punt by Neptune's Heath Meinheit bounced in front of, then past, Jordan, who failed in his attempt to retreat and pick up the pigskin. "1 was expecting a deep kick I could return, but I guess I was back too far and it took a serious bounce (on the artificial surface)," Jordan said. "It was late in the game and I felt like I had to do something." "I was saying, 'Pick it up' Franklin coach Joe Goerge said.

"I wanted Gordan) to have the ball in his hands. We wouldn't be here were it not for Chris Jordan." Continued from page B9 derson scored on an 83-yard run and Rashard Casey ran for a touchdown and passed for another as Hoboken capped an undefeated season by routing Sparta. NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP I BUTLER 16, MADISON 7: Matt McGol-drick snapped a tie with a 27-yard third-quarter field goal and Butler forced five turnovers in the win. Butler also got a touchdown run from Steve Paddock and a 10-yard TD pass by Scott Brown. NJ2 GROUP III WEST MORRIS 21, NUTLEY David Rough ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns and Rick Banda caught a 73-yard touchdown pass from John Morris as West Morris (10-1) defeated Nutley (8-3) in Chester.

PAROCHIAL GROUP I ST. AUGUSTINE 30, ST. MARY'S 8: Quarterback Jesse Comely hit T.J. Meyers on a 64-yard scoring pass play and set up a 49-yard TD run by Delray Pointer with an interception as St. Au gustine (9-2) defeated St.

Mary's. PAROCHIAL GROUP II POPE JOHN 20, MARIST 15: Brian Apgar capped a 10-play, 63-yard drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown as Pope John defeated Marist. It was Pope John's (10-1) 16th sectional title and second Group II title. ROUNDUP PISCATAWAY (9-2) 7 300 1U 0 14 7 7 28 MIDDLETOWN SOUTH (ll-0) Wilson 66 run (Antonelli kick). MS Tactikos 14 run (Serfin kick).

MS Tactikos 57 run (Serfin kick). Antonelli FG 26. MS T. Lopusznick 26 pass from J. Lopusznick (Serfin kick).

MS T. Lopusznick 6 pass from 1 Lopusznick (Serfin kick). poli gang-tackled Welcome for the 2-yard loss, which resulted in a fourth-and-four from the 5. Piscata'-'" way QB Jamie Scholz followed with a rollout right and attempted to hit wide receiver Richard Dow in the end zone, but the throw was inches short. The Eagles turned the goal-line stand into a methodical 12-play, 95-yard TD drive that provided the final margin.

"Our philosophy down there is to -end it quick," Middletown South 1 coach Keith Comeforo said. "We take eight people, we put them in the gaps and we get upheld real quick. Either; they score or we're ending it like we did." tops Summit for title JOHNSON REGIONAL 21 SUMMIT 6 pass before handing off to Aleffi. "They run their linebackers into the middle quickly and the play had a pass look but needs to be blocked quickly," Taylor said. "Carmine Scu-deri did a great blocking job on it." That play was used effectively twice in Johnson's next scoring drive, a 10-play, 89-yarder.

But the key play was a 28-yard hookup from Lueddeke to Nick DeCorso, which gave the Cru- saders a first-and-goal at the 3. Mentzel again did the honors from 3 yards and Lueddeke (10 carries foryi 91 yards) converted the 2-point try and Johnson held a 14-0 edge midway through the second quarter. The Hilltoppers caught a break and got back into the game late in the half. Lueddeke was intercepted by Schroeder at the Crusader 43. On the first play, Schroeder handed off to Foushee, who pitched it back to Schroeder.

Schroeder threw a bomb into the end zone, where receiver Kevin Schmidt and Johnson defender Greg Layden jumped for it. Schmidt came down with the and a touchdown. Schroeder's extra- point attempt was blocked and the Johnson lead was 14-6. "That wasn't a trick, that's part of; their offense. We'd seen it before," Taylor said.

Summit tried some more razzle-dazzle with a fake punt in the final minute of the half, and got a first down at the Johnson 36. But the play was nullified by a penalty. Aleffi took control in the second half, carrying five times for 40 yards during an eight-play, 49-yard drive. Aleffi shook an open-field tackle for a i 24-yard pickup to set up a first-and-; goal at the Hilltopper 8. He took it over from the 6 one play later and Jason Hassler added the point-after with 45 seconds remaining in the third.

JOHNSON REGIONAL (ll-0) SUMMIT (8-3) -68 70 -21 0 6 00 6 JR Mentzel 3 run (kick failed). JR Mentzel 3 run (Lueddeke run). Schmidt A3 pass from Schroeder (kick blocked). JR Aleffi 6 run (Hassler kick). PETER ACKERMANStaff Photographer day, resulting in a disappointing 28-10 defeat in the Central Jersey Group IV championship game at Giants Stadium.

"We moved the ball up the field, but they came up with the right sequence of plays," Piscataway coach Joe Kuro-nyi said of the Eagles, who have won four sectional championships since 1988. "Everyone has been doing that all season long, keying on Dejon. If we scored the one down here (in the third quarter) and the one down there (in the fourth quarter), we were right in the ballgame. Give (Middletown South) credit. They came up with goal-line stands at the right times." The season came down to three could hit them, and play physically with them.

That's a trademark." Two carries later, Summit faced third down at the 2 and gave the ball to Kawon Foushee on an inside run. He got nothing and was hit hard for his trouble. On fourth down, quarterback Steve Schroeder tried the middle on a keeper and also got whacked hard. Still, with the ball now on the 1-yard line, it was close enough to measure. The Crusaders held off Summit by the nose of the football and had turned momentum their way just 2Vi minutes into the game.

"I thought, how could this happen (the 85-yard kick return), we were prepared for it," said Taylor, who was sporting a white hat proclaiming Johnson's championship after the game. "But that kid (Brown) makes big plays. A goal-line stand like that, I give my defense a lot of credit." rr-T FRANK WOJCIECHOWSKISpecial to The Home News It Tribune Steven Meyer, left, chases down Summit quarterback Steve Schroeder during yesterday's North Jersey, Section 2, Group II championship game. Early goal-line stand propels Crusaders By TOM DE MARTINI STAFF WRITER SUMMIT Only 15 seconds had elapsed in yesterday's North Jersey, Section 2, Group 11 sectional final and the Johnson Regional High School football team's vaunted defensive unit found itself in deep trouble. Summit's John Brown had returned the game's opening kickoff 85 yards and the ball rested just outside the Johnson 10.

The Hilltoppers were in the envious position of being able to get a first down before a touchdown and take an early lead on a team which never trailed all year. If there was a time when the Cru saders first-team defense, which hadn't allowed a score all year, had to step up, this was it. "We felt when we walked onto this field, that we didn't get any respect," said Johnson coach Bob Taylor. "We really wanted to show them that we i l.4,4i.M'' iJ Mifc fcir'w n)n nfc.u.