Williams leads Millstone Pee Wee team to win

The Millstone Eagles Pee Wee Football team (2-1), captured their second win of the season, 24-12, over a tough South River team.

Norman Williams had a huge game both on the offensive side (10 carries for 114 yards, one catch for 12 yards and three touchdowns) and defensive side (seven tackles).

"Norman could run over you and around you, which he did both today," said head coach Mike Adler.

Millstone made a statement on the first drive of the game when Sean Cummings took the opening kickoff 30 yards for excellent field position on South River's 41-yard line. On Millstone's first play of the game, Williams ran off left tackle between the blocking of Stefan Pappas and Robert Lentino for a touchdown. The drive was completed with an extra point pass from Nick Palladino to Richard Muraski, who made a diving catch in the end zone.

Millstone took their second possession of the game 67 yards on eight plays for a touchdown. The drive featured a catch by Sean Cummings from Nick Palladino for a gain of 24 yards along with rushes from Norman Williams, Kevin Knorr and Jackson Patterson. The touchdown came off Nick Palladino's pass to Norman Williams for 12 yards. Jackson Patterson powered his way through the defense for the extra point conversion.

Millstone scoring continued in the second quarter with a four-play possession resulting in a 19-yard blast from Sean Cummings. On this possession, Frank Juba, Stefan Pappas and Michael John Adler each contributed with valuable yards. The scoring for the day was capped off by a six-play possession that went 49 yards finished by a Williams eight-yard run.

Nick Palladino (three passes for 36 yards, one for a touchdown and another for an extra point) managed the offensive attack for 256 total yards (220 rushing and 36 passing yards). Sean Cummings (three carries for 32 yards, one catch for 24 yards), Jackson Patterson (five carries for 20 yards), Kevin Knorr (four carries for 19 yards), Frank Juba (three carries for 11 yards), Michael John Adler (one carry for 10 yards), Nick Palladino (one carry for nine yards) and Stefan Pappas (one carry for five yards) supplied the offensive power. The key to the offensive success was due to excellent blocking from the offensive line, Ryan Raslowsky, Robert Lentino, J.T. Curran, Anthony Bliss, Matt Wilkens, Brandon Laday and Zach Hankinson).

Rich Burnett praised Millstone's defensive effort, which held South River to only one score. He received big plays from Norman Williams (seven tackles), Jackson Patterson (four tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery), Nick Palladino (three tackles, one INT), Kevin Knorr (three tackles, one INT), Stefan Pappas (two tackles, one forced fumble), Sean Cummings (two tackles), Joe Budrewicz (two tackles), Ryan Bocchieri (two tackles, one forced fumble), Jake Swerdel (one INT returned 25 yards), Josh Masci (one tackle), Michael John Adler (one fumble recovery) and Joe Mattai.

Millstone Junior Midgets

beat Old Bridge

The Millstone Eagle Junior Midget football team improved their record to 2-After beating a tough Old Bridge squad this past Sunday 14-8. Nicholas Lucarella carried the offensive load once again, running for over 100 yards and scoring two touchdowns. At quarterback, Connor Kennedy was impressive in leading the offense, including a number of completions to Eddie Kaplan. The offensive line of Scott Keleher, Ian Maltz, Michael Kuczinski, Michael McGuinness, Alec Schwartz and Kyle Davis opened gaping holes all day for running backs Chris Dowdy, Steven Viglianti and Nicholas Lucarella.

On defense the Eagle squad welcomed the return of starting nose tackle Michael McGuinness, who terrorized the Old Bridge offense all day. Middle linebackers Patrick Curry and Chris Dowdy were strong in making sure the Old Bridge team could not run up the middle with great assistance from defensive tackles Michael Makwinski, Justin Bregman, Dominic Lazzaro, Kyle Davis and Scott Keleher. Outside linebackers Ian Maltz and Nicholas Lucarella and defensive ends Alec Schwartz and Michael Kuczinski prevented Old Bridge from getting outside. Steffi Bartley and Gerry Borna attacked from their safety position to bolster the run defense.

The pass coverage was also excellent with cornerbacks Eddie Kaplan, Connor Kennedy and Lenny Gigantino smothering the Old Bridge receivers all day. Eddie Kaplan sealed the victory with an interception about one minute left in the game.

This was the Junior Midget team's second game of the season after it kicked off the 2006 football season with one of the most exciting and dramatic wins in the league's history on Aug. 27 at Wagner Farm Park in Millstone. Facing a tough Edison team, the Millstone defense, led by Steffi Bartley, Chris Dowdy, Ian Maltz, Michael Kuczinski, Nicholas Lucarella, and Alec Schwartz, down 12-7 with only 34 seconds remaining in the game, stuffed a fourth-and-one from inside its own 20-yard line, to give the Eagle offense a chance to win. After a short completion to Nicholas Lucarella moved the ball to the Millstone 28-yard line the Eagles had only 5.8 seconds left in the game.

Facing tremendous pressure as he scrambled to his right, Connor Kennedy fired a short pass to Steven Viglianti on the right harsh mark. Viglianti made his way toward the sideline, and as he turned up the field Lucarella delivered a crushing block that sprung Steven for a 72-yard touchdown pass and run on the last play of the game to give the Eagles a 13-12 win.

The Eagles struck first in the second quarter with Lucarella scoring on a 20-yard scamper. Nicholas also added a 65-yard run earlier in the game in his path to over 100 yards for the day. Kennedy completed a pass to Eddie Kaplan for the extra point. Dowdy was also a vital cog for the Eagle offense with his tough running through the middle of the Edison defense. In the second half Edison scored two touchdowns, but the Eagle defense did not allow an extra point, which proved to be the difference. The offensive line of Scott Keleher, Ian Maltz, Michael Kuczinski, Michael Makwinski, Alec Schwartz, Chris Dowdy and Kyle Davis opened holes all day for running backs Michael Ras, Viglianti, Dowdy and Lucarella.

Making significant contributions on both sides of the ball were Justin Bregman, Lenny Gigantino, Pat Curry, Gerry Borna and Dominic Lazzaro.

Allentown flag teams playing well

The Allentown Redbirds Red Flag team took on the Morgan Panthers G Team at Byron Johnson Park on Sunday.

Touchdowns were scored by Lucas Freda and Michael Surrace. Key defense stops were made by Ben Strovinsky, Jacob Hill, Danielle Sullivan, Chris Fake and Max Allen. The offensive and defensive lines were tough with great performances by Zach Powdermaker, Tyler Damasiewicz, Henry Zimmerman, Robbie Buecker, Harrison Hill and Noah Duggan.

The Allentown Redbirds Black Flag team had a tight defensive battle this week with the Morgan Panthers B team, both offensive and defensive teams played very well.

The Redbirds next home game is Sept. 24 against Edison at Byron Johnson Park at 9 a.m.