The first frosting of Fall sent the Mountaineers od Somerset Hills into the Madison Rec Center Friday night to face the fired up Super Pee Wee Dodgers who still sought their first win of the season. Little did the Mountaineers know that the trip here would be the easiest part of their night, as Madison performed brilliantly under the lights and secured a well deserved victory 24-0 before a standing crowd.
Somerset got first possession and Coach Peter Mazzocchi sent in his monster Madison defense, led by Justin Slabaugh, Joey DeMarzo, Giovanni Collins, Elliot Dressler, and Mayson Messuti. Backing them up were Anthony Contessa, Scotty Spelker, Nate McKenna, Tommy Packie, Ben Colao and Ronan McGinn. Quickly facing fourth down, Somerset kicked it over to Madison. QB Robert Ferris took the first snap from center Michael Keller, handed off to Contessa who bolted 55 yards down the sidelines for Madisons’ first score. The point after kick failed, 6-0 in the first. Madisons’ defense again remained thicker than a midnight fog and the Mountaineers were forced to kick, and on the next play Madisons’ Spelker ran it 15 yards to the Somerset 25 to end the first quarter. Contessa got five more on the next play, but following that the Dodgers fumbled it over to Somerset. Again the defense stayed strong, and held Somerset to little gain, and on the ensuing Dodger series a left side sweep by Contessa got him his second of the day and a 12-0 Madison lead. Somerset fumbled on first down and it was recovered by Mayson Messuti, and Madison perfectly executed a reverse to Contessa, who wasted no time plundering through a dazzed defense for his third TD of the game, making it 18-0. Great tackles by Nick McKenna and Gabe Artiglere and a fumble recovery by Slabaugh ended the half mercifully for the Mountaineers.
Artiglere took the second half kickoff to the 50, and following a block by Jackson Conroy, ran it in for the score, only to have it brought back due to a holding penalty. Fourth and two had Ferris keep it for the first down, and again it was Artiglere who went unscathed in for six more, and another missed point after had it 24-0 Madison. Somerset took possession in the fourth quarter and unleashed their air attack, with some fine passes that edged them towards Madison real estate. On first and ten, the next pass was intercepted by LB Nate McKenna, who ran it back 15 yards to the Somerset 45. Nick McKenna and Ben Colao each had some fine carries for big gains and another first down as time expired, sealing the deal and a huge first win for the rejuvenated Dodgers, 24-0. An elated Coach Mazzocchi described it as “ A total team effort” adding, “ They deserve every minute of the game, it was a great victory for us”. The 1-3-2 Dodgers are home again on Friday night against Hanover.
