November 19, 2009
Finals spot in sight for Pats
QB Sean Egan threw a game-winning touchdown pass in the final minute against Becton.
Click Here for photos from the Patriots' win over Weequahic.
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
Located less than five miles away from Secaucus, the image of Giants Stadium can be seen from many parts of town. With the Patriots one game away from a trip to the North 2, Group I final and the stadium, it must seem even closer than usual.
But standing in the Patriots’ way of a trip on Route 3 towards the Meadowlands is a familiar foe in Becton.
Friday night’s showdown in Secaucus between BCSL National rivals will be the fourth time the two teams have met over the past two seasons. Secaucus won all three of those matchups (and seven straight over the Wildcats), but Becton provided the Patriots’ their biggest scare this season.
Trailing 15-12 late in the game, Secaucus (9-0) escaped East Rutherford with a win when Sean Egan connected with Ramon Villareal on a 55-yard touchdown with 50 seconds left. Villareal out-jumped a pair of defenders for the ball and then sprinted the final 30 yards to give the Patriots the victory.
The 20 points against Becton (7-2) was the fewest Secaucus put up in a game this season and one of only two times they failed to score 30 or more points.
| Lucky Seven | |
|---|---|
Inside Secaucus' winning streak against Becton. |
|
| 10/23/2009 | Secaucus 20, Becton 15 |
| 11/14/2008 | Secaucus 46, Becton 0** |
| 9/26/2008 | Secaucus 30, Becton 6 |
| 9/21/2007 | Secaucus 24, Becton 20* |
| 9/29/2006 | Secaucus 43, Becton 0 |
| 9/30/2005 | Secaucus 13, Becton 0* |
| 10/15/2004 | Secaucus 42, Becton 6 |
| * game at Secaucus. **playoff game at Secaucus | |
For the season, the Patriots have averaged more than 41 points per game behind an overpowering running game. Joe Impreveduto (1,184 yards rushing, 22 touchdowns) and Ed Delgado (845 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns) have been a lethal one-two combination out of the backfield. Delgado and Impreveduto combined for 352 yards and five touchdowns in a 32-0 win over Weequahic in the opening round of the North 2, Group I tournament.
Delgado and Impreveduto have been able to run wild thanks to a physically imposing offensive line anchored by Rutgers-bound right tackle Betim Bujari along with talented junior left tackle Nick Gjoni. Seniors Igor Ivanovski and Mike Landi have also been staples on the O-Line for the Patriots.
Egan, a sophomore, has impressed with his poise at QB since taking over for an injured Niko Petruzzella in early October and Matt Traynor is a big-play threat at receiver.
Secaucus will need their offense to continue to put up big numbers against a Becton defense that has allowed just 40 points in their last four games.
The Patriots will also need to keep their eye on QB Zach Trause and RB Matt Fleck of the Wildcats. Trause threw two touchdowns (both to Fleck) and ran for another in a 27-6 win over Dayton in the first round of the North 2, Group I playoffs. Another offensive weapon is Greg Barbo. He scored two touchdowns in the first meeting with Secaucus and he also hauled in an 85-yard touchdown in a recent win over Weehawken.
A Patriot win would give them their second ever trip to the state finals. The other time occurred in 1996 when Secaucus lost to Glen Rock 21-0 in the North 1, Group I championship