Wolfpack Football Avenges First-Week Loss, Beats Parsippany Hills Vikings

After a gut-wrenching, 1-point overtime loss in week one of the Wolfpack's title defense season, the football team showed great resiliency and buckled down on defense against the Parsippany Hills Vikings on Friday, Sept. 17, grabbing a 24-20 win on the road.

With 3:28 left in the game, trailing by 4, the Vikings received a punt and started at their own 23-yard line. Running out of the shotgun formation, Vikings quarterback Mike Comerford (13 for 25, 218 yards on the day) completed a pass to the right side for 5 yards on first down, but came up incomplete on the next two plays. On 3^rd down, West Morris was called for a personal foul–roughing the passer–giving the Vikings a first down, 15 additional yards and, most importantly, new life.

On the next play, Cormerford threw to the left side ,picking up 21 yards and moving the Vikings into Wolfpack territory. The next three plays only yielded eight yards for Par Hills, and it was faced with a make-it-or-break-it 4^th and 2 at the West Morris 27 yard line. Cormerford took the snap, ran left and was met by Wolfpack linebackers Shane Thompson and Cap Huizenga in addition to linemen Nick Hamilton and Tony Castellani after a minimal gain.

The refs brought out the chains for an official measurement and the stadium went silent. Head referee Kevin Laughlin raised his hands indicating the ball came up inches short of a first down, and the West Morris sideline erupted, knowing kneel-downs would kill the clock on the way to the Wolfpack's 2010's first victory.

Earlier in the game it seemed the Wolfpack would roll as its first drive–aided by great field position on Tom Cabarle's opening kickoff return–showcased the bruising Thompson getting three carries, ending with a 5-yard pass play from QB John Gutkowski to Tom Cabarle, who entered the end zone untouched.

But the Vikings wouldn't be outdone, and after going three-and-out on their first drive, easily drove down the field on their next two possessions, taking a 14-7 lead in the 2^nd quarter.

The Wolfpack responded quickly, though, and with 6:46 left in the half, Gutkowski hit Cabarle in the middle of the field on what looked like a routine pass play. Cabarle skirted a defender, made his way to the sideline and outran the rest of the Vikings defense for a 77-yard TD reception. Kicker Connor Young–who had three touchbacks on the day–tacked on the extra point to tie the game.

On the ensuing drive, Vikings running back CJ Joyce lost a fumble in Viking territory, recovered by Tyler Amadnos. The Wolfpack capitalized with a 28-yard, clock-crushing touchdown drive finished off by Thompson to put West Morris up for good, 21-14 going into the half.

The Wolfpack, despite wracking up numerous penalties and sometimes looking lost on defense against the Vikings passing attack, made the stops when it mattered most, including a 3^rd quarter, drive-stopping interception by defensive back Joe DeBiasse, which resulted in a 23-yard field goal by Young on the Wolfpack's ensuing drive.

The Wolfpack heads to Delbarton on Saturday, Sept. 25 to take on the Green Wave (1-1) at 1 p.m.