Madison Clinic Flattens Somerset Hills

The usual Monday mood at Madison Clinics practice quickly turned more serious as a tough upcoming game against Somerset Hills on Saturday threatened their winning streak. By early Saturday morning, the tension was thicker than the crusty frosted turf standing guard at Somersets’ Bernardsville field, where the Bulldogs lost only once this season. Madison Coach Peter Mazzocchi Sr. seemed more nervous than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. All he needed to do was look at Quarterback Jack O’hearen, who was so relaxed in warmups that he showed up wearing his home colored jersey, giving an air of confidence that charged up the entire team.

After a quick change, O’hearen's offense started the game, moving the ball decisively downfield with nice carries by Ryan Marquardt and Timmy Holland. A second costly penalty thwarted that drive however, and Somerset took possession. The hype surrounding the Bulldogs prowess traveled along the Madison sidelines and bleachers, but evidently never made it to the Dodger defense. Somerset first tried to run it up the middle, where they were stopped short by Greyson Cullis, Jack Wilt and Carter Vali. They tried the right side, and were instantly introduced to Liam Beifus, Peter Kearney and Patrick Quinn. Going left proved just as costly, being dismantled by the “M Squad” of Matthew Gero, Matthew McIntyre and Matthew Monaco.

Madisons second drive fared much better, with runs by McIntyre and Holland, culminated by a 15 yard sprint by Patrick Penders for the first score of the game. O’hearens try for the extra point was short, and the Dodgers led it 6-0. Somersets next series was shut down by fine defensive plays by Gero, Aiden Bodnar, Quinn and Beifus, turning it back over to Madisons offense after four plays. O’hearen stayed safe in the pocket behind super blocking of Aiden Feledy, John Geier, Nick Esposito and Bruno Codorlup, and threw a perfect spiral to Penders, who took it 40 yards for their second score. Tommy Dwyer was on a mission to get the extra point, and did just that to make it 13-0. Somerset again tried to get things going, but just could not penetrate the Dodger defense thanks to plays by Luke Vorhees, Sean Purce, Quinn and a superb open field tackle by Holland to end the half.

Somerset fared no better opening the second half, after runs for no gain were halted by Kearney and Vali, and their third play was fumbled, recovered by Madisons Jack Wilt at the Bulldogs 35. An offensive holding penalty pushed Madison back, but Holland quickly gained those yards back and then some, making it third and two. O’hearen threw a missle to Nick Esposito, who deployed it to the two, where Marquardt took it in on the next play for Madisons’ third score. Dwyer was called upon once again for the point after, finding the end zone easily for a 20-0 trouncing by Madison. Somerset was never a threat, failing to get their offense kick started, and Kearney and Vorhees caused another fumble recovered by Quinn. Bodnar and company kept the Bulldogs from even sniffing the goal line, and Penders and Vali mercifully ran out the clock to a cheering crowd, keeping the Clinic Dodgers unbeaten streak alive for another week with a 20-0 shut out. Next up- home against Hopatcong.