October 22, 2011

Rutherford senior RB James Trevellin (far right) runs for a big gain. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Rutherford at Secaucus Football Photo Gallery

SECAUCUS – Moments after it's second gut-wrenching loss in as many weeks, the message from within Secaucus' postgame huddle was clear - they were not going to fall apart from this, a point senior linebacker Tom Kessler stressed to his teammates of by remind them "no matter what, we're still a family."

Kessler and the rest of the Patriots remain confident of better days ahead, but that was of little solace as Secaucus fell just short in its 21-20 showdown with Rutherford last night at Kane Stadium.

"We didn't win anything or lose anything tonight," said Secaucus head coach Charlie Voorhees trying to keep focused on the bigger picture - a spot in the upcoming NJSIAA North 2, Group I playoffs. "We just got to make sure we get into the playoffs, we've got to win next week."

Voorhees and his Secaucus (5-2) squad experienced the whole range emotions in this back-and-forth affair, especially in a wild and unpredictable fourth quarter.

Tied at 14-all, the visiting Bulldogs (7-0) faced a 4th-and-1 on the Patriots 39 when a poor snap was scooped up by Kessler. The Secaucus senior was stripped on the return, but teammate Chris Soto was there to pick up the slack, fielding the loose ball off the turf and running the final 30 yards for a touchdown with 7:55 left.

The emotional high would be short lived as Rutherford marched back down the field and delivered a stunning play of their own. The Bulldogs executed a daring, yet flawless fake punt on a 4th-and-6. Quarterback Mike Paskas taking the snap and throwing a jump pass to an open Pat Landrigan for a 36-yard gain to the Secaucus 18.

"When that play call came in I was excited, but I was nervous too," said Paskas, who threw for 117 yards and rushed for 62 yards in the victory. "I knew that was the game right there."

"Of course there was doubt. But if we were going to run it, that was the time right there," said head coach Andy Howell of the fake, which was added to the playbook just a day earlier. "We only had one time out left they had been pretty successful running the ball on us all night. If we did punt it we might not have seen the ball again."

Five plays later James Travellin (23 carries, 117 yards) would give the Bulldogs the lead for good with a 1-yard plunge for his third rushing touchdown of the night with 1:48 left.

Secaucus would mount one last drive, moving the ball 50 yards down the field to the Rutherford 32 until quarterback Sean Egan was sacked by Rutherford's Chris Skowronski and Ryan Stephens  as time expired.

"Everyone's banged up, but we face adversity every week," Paskas said. "We know the game's not over until that final buzzer sounds."

The Patriots faced their own adversity in the second quarter, trailing 7-0 with the Bulldogs threatening to score again until Evan Rodriguez forced a fumble near the goal line with teammate Nick Schaffer pouncing on the fumble in the end zone. It would be the first of two defensive stands inside the 5 for Secaucus, the other coming when Kessler blocked a field goal in the final seconds of the opening half.

After the fumble recovery, Schaffer would give the Patriots their first lead on the next drive on a 1-yard touchdown. Schaffer would make it 14-7 midway through the third quarter with a 3-yard score as he finished with 91 yards on 22 carries.

Secaucus now finds itself in a must-win situation when it travels to Hasbrouck Heights next Friday night. While he knows his team's  playoff future is now in flux, Voorhees hopes the sometimes painful lessons from the past two weeks serve to help his team next week and beyond.

"We're definitely a better team tonight than we were this morning and we're a better team this week from last week," Voorhees said. "We played hard.

"Here in football, we're teaching the whole curriculum of life to these guys and if we stay strong maybe we get a better day some day in the future... Now we get ready for the next one."

Secaucus' Jason Mitchell (left) helps make a tackle on Jake Regina in the second quarter. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Rutherford at Secaucus Football Photo Gallery