The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 243

D30 JBEjgEV 3H3 7 SUNDAY. DECEMBER 4. 1383 THE RECORD S-17 inlivain stars im Glen Itodk's sliocker GROUP 2 Thunderbirds were on their own 47-yard line. Junior quarterback Tom Capo rale slipped and was hit as he tried to pass, and O'SuIlivan grabbed the ball as it popped out of Caporale's hands. "We got outplayed today, it's as simple as that," said Mahwah coach Ed Caporale, his voice cracking with emotion.

"I thought we'd make it back, and be able to" do some of the things we're capa- ble of doing. But they came through on a fourth down, and at tacked us like nobody has all doubt about it, they deserve everything." Junior running back Alex Beau sang paced the Mahwah offense, jf-rushing for a game-high 65 yards. He carried four times for 38 yards on Mahwah's opening drive of the second half to set up Caporale's 1-yard touchdown plunge. Jim McGeechan added a 29-yard field goal for the Thunderbirds. I "I feel like I always feel after a loss, extremely disappointed," the senior Caporale said.

"Maybe I could have done a better job pre- By Mark J. Czerwinski Record Staff Writer MAHWAH Mike O'SuIlivan may not be Glen Rock's most talented football player, but he certainly was the most popular following Saturday's Group 2, Section 1 championship game. Hie senior halfback, who lablea himself "at best, a Division 3 prospect," scored two touchdowns and starred on defense as the Panthers stunned previously unbeaten Mahwah, 17-10, to win the New Jersey State Interscholastk Athletic Association title. In the postgame mob scene at midfield, O'SuIlivan tried to downplay his role as he fielded the hugs and kisses of the Glen Rock cheerleaders. "We all showed a lot of pride out there, that's kind of been our trademark this year," said O'SuIlivan, who rushed for 61 yards on 11 carries.

"We've been together since we were eight or nine years old, all the way up through the leagues. We've got a lot of pride in each other, and we just couldn't let each other down." The Panthers (10-1) led 10-0 at the half on O'Sullivan's 8-yard touchdown and David Feuer's 28-yard field goal. The Thunderbirds (10-1) struck back with 10 points in the first six minutes of the second half, and the momentum seemed in their favor. The change in fortune even extended to the defense, where the Thunderbirds pulled off a big play at the end of the third quarter. Senior defensive back Scott Christopher recovered a Mike Ferry fumble after a hard tackle by linebacker Warren Roark stopped the Pan there on the Mahwah 1-yard line.

The Panthers appeared to be stymied again on their next possession when coach Art Christen-sen decide to forgo the punt on a fourth down-and-seven situation. Quarterback Jim Leonard faked a handoff to senior fullback Sean Oakes, scrambled, and flipped a short pass to O'SuIlivan just over the line of scrimmage. O'SuIlivan was hit, but stayed on his feet to outrun the Mahwah defense for a 33-yard touchdown. Feuer's extra point gave the Panthers a 17-10 lead with 7:30 remaining. "The fake handoff was meant to sucker the linebackers, but the play broke down," O'SuIlivan said.

"I was hit, but I just gave the guy a little stiff arm and broke around to the outside." O'Sullivan's heroics didn't end there. With 1:59 remaining, the 'I pi Glen Rock's Jim Leonard (12) tries JOE GIARDELLITHE RECORD Paul Miccinille. Del Gaiidio wins it for Waldwick Another gem for St. Joseph PAROCHIAL A -J. iicr i paring these kids, I don't know.

I. feel bad for them, especially the seniors, because after the season we've had, they have to be satis-, fied with just the Bergen-Passaic Scholastic League King Division championship." Si j. to escape the clutches of Mahwah's i 1 Waldwick's Marc Del Gaudio (22) After the ensuing kickoff, Waldwick scored with the help of some critical penalties. On a fourth-down play, Sonny Merritt sacked Warriors quarterback Mike Buchanan on the Cresskill 29. But the Cougars were called for face-mask penalty and Waldwick had a first down.

On third-and-15, Buchanan fired a pass into the end zone intended for Lou Sneyers. Despite pass interference, Sneyers almost pulled it in with one hand. The penalty moved the ball to the 9. Four plays later, Del Gaudio Vs" 4 i a 5 IV 1 I GROUP 1 By Bob Kurland Record Staff Writer CRESSKILL Marc Del Gau-dio proved as strong Saturday as at the beginning of the season. He scored three touchdowns to lead Waldwick to a 26-7 victory over Cresskill for the Group 1, North Section 1 championship.

The Warriors won their first New Jersey State Interscholastk Athletic Association football title by defeating the defending champions. Waldwick (9-2) outrushed the Cougars, 264-37, with Del, Gaudio contributing 186 yards on 40 carries. He boosted his season totals to 22 touchdowns and more than 1,900 yards. "I knew it would be tough out there, and I have bruises all over to show for it," said Del Gaudio, who scored the lone touchdown of the first half by going over the top from the 2. He also scored on a 1-yard dive late in the third period.

"We've been doing that all season," he said. The Cougars (8-2-1) were looking for Del Gaudio but seldom stopped him. "He's an outstanding runner," said Cresskill coach Bob Valli. "He doesn't look that strong, but he's very hard to bring down." Del Gaudio attributed his success to his linemen: Kevin Faul, Eugene Paolucci, Anthony Cac-ciola, Eric Eichinger, and Bob McGrath. "They opened holes all afternoon.

They were just great." Rookie coach Howie Reed agreed that the line was outstanding. "But Marc is an unbelievable runner," Reed said. "He has great leg strength, tremendous balance, and something you can't measure: a lot of heart that doesn't let him go down." Although the Warriors dominated the statistics, it was anyone's game until the final quarter. "I was worried at the half that we were up only 6-0," said Reed. "And when they scored a the start of the third period I was nervous.

But all season long we've come back strong after being scored upon." Cresskill scored after a 41-yard option pass from Mike Doto to George Allen moved the ball to the 3, and Kevin Quinn took it in. Do-to's extra-point kick put Cresskill on top, 7-6. 4 trr' 4 STEVE HOCKSTEINTHE RECORD line for a touchdown. nal quarter with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Jones. "It hurt a lot but I had to play for the team," said Buchanan.

"But I think our line won the game for us." Valli noted Waldwick's near-perfect performance. "They don't turn the ball over or make big mistakes," he said. "They executed so well and outplayed us. Our pass defense hurt us." Valli said his club lost three starters to injuries in the last three games. "But give them the Warriors credit because a better football team beat us," he said.

Arm Jib. Of gs By Joe Chessari Correspondent MONTVALE Tony Karcich proudly wears a championship ring on his right hand and a championship watch on his left wrist The ring and watch symbolize what his St. Joseph football team accomplished last season. The Green Knights entered this season with the task of defending their Parochial A North crown. It's time for the coach to order another ring and watch.

Senior quarterback Chris Moore passed for three touchdowns and ran for another Saturday as St Joseph retained its title with a 29-18 victory over Delbarton in the Northern New Jersey Inter-scholastic League playoffs. "This was a big day for this program," Karcich said. "When I came here four years ago, they were 1-8. Now we've won two straight state championships. And with the kind of young players we have, there are more great seasons ahead." But Saturday's victory won't be soon forgotten.

"This is something IH always remember," said Moore. "We had a great season 10-1. We lost a game to Kennedy a 21-0 rout, but we didn't give it up. We obviously didn't feel good about it We were a little bit angry." Moore said anger was channeled into dedication. And the increased desire resulted in the state championship.

"This team is a closely knit group, especially the seniors," Moore said. "We didn't like the way we felt after the Kennedy game. We didn't want to feel like that again." Moore's touchdown passes came in the first half. Five minutes in the game, he spotted Hendrickx Toussaint in the end zone from 4 yards out. And with 41 seconds left in the half, Moore hooked up with Dave Perno on an 18-yard scoring play.

"We wanted to work on quick passes," said Moore, who completed nine passes for 99 yards. "I thought it worked better in the second half." The play of the game also was in the first half, and it produced the Knights' second touchdown. "It's our hook-and-pitch," Moore said. "It was a designed play. We had worked on it all week." St.

Joseph had taken possession on its 27 following a 29-yard field goal by A.J. Delaire. Moore threw a short pass left to Perno at the 33. Perno then tossed a lateral to Mike Savignano, who ran the rest of the way for the score. Karcich supported the play, but said it wasn't on page one of his playbook.

"We go over those plays in practice, but they never work," Karcich said. "The kids work on those plays on their own. I call them junk plays. I really don't like them. But one of my assistants suggested it and it was good place for it" Trick plays were not the order of the day for Delbarton.

The Green Wave (9-2) was hammered by the St. Joseph defense, which featured the relentless pressure of linebacker George Stewart, who sacked quarterback Vin Ferrara twice and substitute quarterback John McEvoy once; Steven Hayward and Greg Smie-chowski, who both had interceptions, and lineman Jason Cosimano, who was involved in at least 10 tackles. "We did a good job shutting down their option," Karcich said. "That was their first phase. We knew they could run, but we knew we could hold them." A.

threads his way through the Cresskill went in from the 1 to regain the lead for the Warriors. "In that one, I barely got the ball over," DelGau-dio said. Steve Jones caught the two-point conversion pass for a 14-7 lead. Cresskill seemed to run out of steam in the fourth period. "We're a physical team and well-conditioned," said Reed, "and our game plan was to wear them down." Buchanan turned in a gritty performance, playing with a slight shoulder separation suffered Monday in practice.

He opened the fi North Bergen picks up where Kennedy leaves off GROUP 4 a blitzer and ran for 23 yards to set up his 1 12-yard run off the option. His kick made it 7-0. In the second quarter, after North Ber- gen's Rich Busa recovered a fumbled I punt at the Knights' 26, Giordano passed, for the final 6 yards to Paret. The whole team, except Paret, went to the left as if 1 on a running play, and the Kennedy de- fense went for it. Despite three strong defensive plays by Bruins safety Jimmy Rotolo, Kennedy! took the lead with 18 seconds left in the half.

Donte Noble outjumped two defend-, era for a 25-yard pass, but the extra-point 11 kick was low. But for Kennedy, the beginning of the end came in the third peri 10-yard passes. When Giordano rolled right and found receiver Tommy Paret covered; he ran it in. Glen Rodriquez snapped, Jeff Moreno held, and junior Pedro Borda, a transfer from Memorial, won the game with his 34th extra point in 40 tries. Kennedy was back in it quickly, however, as Antoine Barrett returned the kickoff 47 yards to the NB 36, but Moreno and Cursinella caused another fumble that Cursinella recovered.

The first-half dazzle belonged to Kennedy's Patterson, who was hampered by laryngitis and often had to turn over the signal-barking duties to the tailback behind him, Keith Becote. On Kennedy's first possession, Patterson ducked under all the time," coach Vin Ascolese said in self-defense. This time, he gave quarterback Wayne Giordano a rare green light, and the 5-foot-9 junior responded with 7-of-14 passing (including a touchdown) and the deciding 2-yard run with 41 seonds left. Kennedy coach Frank Bonadies accepted the burden for one of the pivotal plays, a punt his team never got off. Kennedy had to punt from its 26 with 1:25 remaining.

As the Knights broke their huddle, Bonadies called to punter Michael Patterson, "If it's a bad snap, run it out of the end zone." Patterson didn't hear the last five words. And, after fielding a very high By Ron Fox Record Staff Writer PATERSON Razzle-dazzle from a North Bergen football team? The films won't lie. They'll show the Bruins winning the Group 4, Section 1 title Saturday with a passing game and a series ol incongruous occurrences in the final 85 seconds. Defending champion Kennedy seemed in charge until two kicking plays and a pair of fumbles made possible North Bergen's 14-13 victory in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs. And the usually conservative Bruins won it through the air.

"We're working on our passing game snap, he tried to run, despite apparently having enough room to get off the kick. He was slowed by Mike Rogers, and then hit from each side by Michael Anderson and Phil Cursinella. The resultant fumble was recovered by Victor Garces at the Knights 8. "No one individual loses a game," Bonadies said. "The team wins and the team loses.

That play was my fault" The Bruins moved toward the winning score and Ascolese's fifth sectional championship fourth on the field as Giordano hit Michael Godfrey for 8- and od, when a 25-yard TD pass to Noble was erased by an illegal-receiver penalty..