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Dogs Nip Cats in OT !!!
Rutherford takes two out of three games against the Wildcats and won the battle of undefeated Pee Wee teams. Wins by the Pee Wee’s and Juniors gives RJF the opportunity to win the division with only two weeks left in the regular season. The Rutherford Junior Football Bulldogs opened the evening with the Mighty-Mites (7 year olds) playing the East Rutherford/Carlstadt Wildcats for the second time this season. Rutherford won the coin toss and elected to start on offense. With the constant rotation of fresh players every play, the Bulldogs started to march down the field. Linemen Owen Meister, Virgil Minnick, Josh Glatman, Nick Brady, Brendon Nestor, Chris Avramidis, Derek Micek, Matthew Severino, Matthew Bender, John Petrosino and Mike Davies kept rotating with fresh legs and were able to open running lanes. QB Zach Bouabidi ran the offense like a clock as he handed the ball off to the rotation of running backs Niko Tsiolas, Anthony Doren, Jake Schuman, Rostyk Fedorko and Axel Ramos. A run by Axel Ramos off the left tackle broke him free for the first score of the game. With the PAT unsuccessful, the Bulldogs led 6-0. The 'Dogs drive ate the entire first quarter with the Wildcats not coming out on offense. At the start of the 2nd quarter, the defensive line of Derek Micek, Chris Avramidis, Virgil Minnick, Nick Brady, Brendon Nestor and Owen Meister penetrated on every play. Backers Tsiolas, Bouabidi, Ramos, Doren, Schuman, Kelly and Phelp filled the gaps and forced the Wildcats to punt after three plays. The offense continued their ways starting a nice drive towards the end zone. At the Wildcats 7 yard line, the Bulldogs saw that they were concerned with the outside run and handed the ball off to Jake Schuman right up the middle for the second score. The PAT was unsuccessful again and the Mites led 12-0 at halftime. At the start of the second half, the 'Cats were being stopped again by the Bulldogs defense. On a 3rd and 12, the Wildcats handed the ball off and after what seemed a long time with the RB being wrapped up, he broke free and scampered for the end zone. Now with the score 12-6, the Bulldogs had the Wildcats on a 4th and 15 situation. The RB was tackled in the backfield on what seemed would end the game but an unfortunate face mask call gave them a first down at the Bulldogs 5 yd line. The Wildcats scored on the next play but were stopped on the extra point making the score 12-12. The Bulldogs were only able to run two plays with 11 seconds left on the clock and the game ended with the tie. The RJF Pee Wees (8-9 year olds) continued their winning ways, by out pointing the Wildcats 19-18 in overtime. Rutherford (6-0) went into halftime down 6-0 but came out in the second half a different team scoring twice. The Bulldogs had a 50 yard Rich Marques touchdown run called back in the first half on a penalty. The little Bulldogs went to their ground and pound game plan and Omar Abdelhamid just bullied his way downfield. The offensive line took over in the second half by controlling the line of scrimmage and collapsing the Wildcats rush: Joe Fisicaro, John Kelly, Lawson Fisher, Rich Doren, Nick Ippolitto, Mike DeSteno and Anthony Dubeniczic. Omar scored all three touchdowns and the extra point in OT to give the undefeated Bulldogs a great shot at the top spot in the Southern Division. Rutherford’s running backs Tyler Aponte, Jacob Munoz and Billy Finn turned in on in the fourth quarter, blasting away with great lead blocking. The RJF Junior’s (10-11 year olds) won 13-8 and were led by the ground attack. The first couple of series were unmemorable by both teams with the Bulldogs fumbling but getting the ball back when Mohamed Abdelhamid intercepted a Wildcat pass. The Bulldogs followed that with an interception of their own. The Wildcats who came ready for a slugfest got on the board when they broke it off tackle and ran for a 25yd TD run. They kicked the extra point thru to make the score Wildcats 8 Bulldogs 0. The Bulldogs spent the rest of the half trying to get them composed and holding the Wildcats offense to the one score. At halftime the Wildcats 8 Bulldogs 0. In the 3rd qtr the Bulldogs came alive and after some aggressive defensive play got the ball back when Sebastian Medina intercepted another Wildcat pass and ran it back 20yds to the Wildcat 49. On a 3rd a 4 play, QB Nick Birchby dropped back and hit Tom Reid in stride with a 30yd pass. Reid turned on the afterburners and cruised the additional 13yds into the end zone. The PAT was no good Wildcats 8 Bulldogs 6. The rest of the 3rd qtr was more physical defensive play from both teams. In the start of the 4th the Wildcats were driving and had the ball at the Bulldogs 40yd line when the Bulldog defense stiffened and got the ball back after holding the Wildcats on a 4th and 2. The Bulldogs knew that time was running out and with less than 6 minutes to play started their march. The Bulldogs offensive line would respond and behind the offensive line blocking of David Van Winkle, Jesse Madden, Thomas Reid, Logan Gardner, David Cassanova, Andrew Brito, Brian Gonzalez and Julian Alvarez would start sealing the blitzing Wildcats. The running attack also responded the running/blocking of Matt Lambie, Mohamed AbdelHamid and Sebastian Medina. The Bulldogs drove the ball down to the Wildcat 3yd line, where with 1:14 left, the Bulldogs Mohamed Adelhamid blasted thru for a 3yd TD run giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the game.. Mohamed Adelhamid also converted the PAT to make the score Bulldogs 13 Wildcats 8. With 1 minute to play the Bulldogs kicked off to the Wildcats and once again the Bulldogs relied on their defense to preserve the win. The Bulldog defense did not disappoint and responded with two stops in the backfield and an interception by Matt Lambie to seal the win. Final Bulldogs 13 Wildcats 8. Rutherford’s Seniors (12-13 year olds) took another one on the chin but played hard up to the last play. Rutherford is away next week in North Arlington on Saturday night. The Pee Wees can lock up the Southern Division Championship with a win, while the Juniors (10-11 year olds) will be playing an undefeated NA squad for first place in their division.
RJF Might Mites Tie 12-12
RJF Pee Wees Win 19-18
RJF Juniors Win 12-8
RJF Seniors Lose 0-27
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