Aviators Keep 'Tradition' Going Against Rival Devils

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS - The football rivalry between Hasbrouck Heights and Wood-Ridge, that was only a couple of years ago the annual Thanksgiving Day tradition, has at the very least been very lopsided in favor of the Aviators.

You pretty much have to go back to the early 1990s or even the 1980s to find Wood-Ridge winning a game in this battle.

And the Aviators dominance has taken a whole new life of its own where each group of Heights football players does not want to lose to the Blue Devils.

And with that in mind, Heights went out and dominated on the ground while keeping the Wood-Ridge offense on the bench. The Aviators would keep the tradition alive with a 47-6 victory over Wood-Ridge on Friday night at Depken Field.

"It's a great feeling," said junior running back Anthony Seidel who scored two touchdowns and ran the ball 20 times for 95 yards. "We're just trying to keep the tradition alive."

The junior running back and the other Heights players were hearing some chirping from the town down south since the start of the season that this was the year that Wood-Ridge was going to beat Heights.

"They were talking, but we just played our game," said Seidel.

Seidel did the bull work of the Aviators offense while senior running back Mike Pikowski led the team offensively with 110 yards on the ground on four carries including an 89 yard touchdown run that ended the third quarter and give the Aviators a 33-0 run.

After losing the opener to , Heights has won back-to-back games over (21-20 last week) and now Wood-Ridge.

"We changed a few things from that game (Saddle Brook) and have been working hard," said Seidel.

Since that opening game Heights head coach Nick Delcalzo has gone with sophomore Darren Iurato as the main quarterback and it has paid dividends. Iurato threw only three times on Friday night, but he hit David Im on a five-yard touchdown pass while also running for an eight-yard run to open the scoring.

The 2-1 Aviators host Wallington on Friday night as Heights looks to avenge one of their losses last season. In Week 4 the Aviators lost a high scoring game, 41-35 to a Panthers team that would go on and win the Group 1 North 1 state championship.

While the Heights offense was running the ball between the tackles, the Aviators defense led by Im, Seidel, Mike Pasqualone, Chris Connors, James Fitzsimmons and Justin Porzl were keeping the Wood-Ridge offense led by P.J. Incremona and Ryan Hennessy at bay.

In the first half Heights had the ball five times and scored three times. The five times included a one play drive at the end of the first half.

After the Aviators defense stopped Wood-Ridge on the first drive of the second half in three downs, Heights drove 59 yards the first time they were handed the ball and it culminated on a Seidel two-yard plunge. A Mike Schroback kicked the point after for a 26-0 lead and kept the Heights domination going.

Hasbrouck Heights 47 Wood-Ridge 6
(Friday, September 23 at Depken Field, Hasbrouck Heights)

First quarter
Hasbrouck Heights, Darren Iurato 8-yard run, point after no good, 6-0

Second quarter
Hasbrouck Heights, David Im 5-yard reception from Iurato, pass no good, 12-0

Hasbrouck Heights, Anthony Seidel 2-yard run, Mike Schroback kick, 19-0

Third quarter
Hasbrouck Heights, Seidel 2-yard run, Schroback kick, 26-0

Hasbrouck Heights, Mike Pikowski, 89-yard run, Schroback kick, 33-0

Fourth quarter
Hasbrouck Heights, Chris Abramo, 64-yard interception, Schroback kick, 40-0

Wood-Ridge, P.J. Incremona, 33-yard run, point after missed, 40-6

Hasbrouck Heights, Mauro Altamura 13-yard run, Schroback kick, 47-6

Hasbrouck Heights 2011 football schedule
(Games at 7 p.m. unless noted)

Sept. 9     Saddle Brook, Loss, 37-7
Sept. 17    at St. Mary, 1:30 p.m., Win, 21-20
Sept. 23    Wood-Ridge, Win, 47-6
Sept. 30    Wallington
Oct. 7        at Becton
Oct. 15      at Bogota, 1 p.m.
Oct. 21      Lyndhurst
Oct. 28      Secaucus
Nov. 5       at Pompton Lakes, 1 p.m.