Knights Fall to Green Wave Despite Valiant Effort

West Essex High School's Varsity Football team failed to stop Delbarton's strong running attack, falling to the Green Wave 14-7 in the season opener for the Knights.                

"We have to play tough and smart to beat a team like that," said Knights junior fullback Garett Rees.

The Knights struggled with a bigger, faster Delbarton squad, particularly with standout running back Ryan Hislop.                

"He's real good with his cutbacks, but nothing we can't handle," said Rees, who noted that a number of missed tackles on first contact by the Knights aided in Hislop's explosive day.

Hislop would finish with 171 yards rushing and scoring both of Delbarton's touchdowns. He scored from 8 yards out with 3:05 to go in the first quarter to put the Green Wave up 7-0.                

West Essex would weather the early storm from Delbarton and eventually tie it up with a four-yard touchdown run from junior Stephen O'Neill.

Prior to that West Essex stopped Delbarton on a 4th and 2 from just inside Knights Territory setting them up with a shortened field.

The Knights ground game kicked into gear with solid runs from O'Neill, and senior Mike Mitchell. After O'Neill converted a 4th down by fighting off Delbarton tacklers, Mike D'Annunzio had an 11-yard catch, setting the Knights up at the 4-yard line where O'Neill would power it in to make it 7-7 before the half.     

The Knights, though, were unable to sustain their momentum. Delbarton chipped away at West Essex's defense on yet another long drive to start the second half. The Knights were forced to abandon the run as Delbarton stacked the line to gain penetration to the Knights backfield.

O'Neill, who was effective with 42 yards rushing in the first half, gained just 8 in the second half, alongside Rees who had 8 yards as well.               

It was evident the Knights would need to throw the ball to get moving offensively so they turned to quarterback Tyler Fossetta who showed a flash of brilliance, completing a 42-yard pass to senior Frank Marotti to get the Knights moving. But they would be unable to get much farther. Fossetta finished with 63 yards passing and two costly interceptions.                

The Knights look to rebound as they play rival James Caldwell High School Chiefs at James Caldwell High School, on Friday, at 3 p.m.

"We're gonna take it to them, we're gonna beat them, and we're gonna be ready," said Rees.