The Madison Rec Varsity Dodgers caravan traveled to Long Valley on Sunday Sept 23rdlooking to add another W to their win column. The Raiders proved a worthy adversary, but right from the opening kick it was evident the dominating Dodgers had other plans.
Madisons’ defense, coming off a stellar performance last week, allowed no points passing and only 8 rushing in four quarters. Superb tackling by Tim Andersen, Aniello Vacchiano, Ben Colao, Nate McKenna, Joaquin Izzo, Cade LaFerriere, and Vinny Finelli. Coach Scott Spelker and his staff kept a fresh rotation of players revolving through with tackles by Christian Fassnacht, Scotty Spelker and Will Baisch and secondary gang tackles by Elliot Dressler, Jake Loughran, Robert Ferris, Andrew Boyd and Ronan McGinn. Madison had a very impressive goal line stand early in the game that became a huge deterrent to any future drives by Long Valley.
The Offense was led by Ryan O’Rourke, who took over on the Madison five for their first possession in the second quarter. Coach Mike Mantones’ play selections were dazzling, and kept the Raiders as flabbergasted as a first time Clue player . After significant gains by Jayson Candelario and Anthony Contessa, O’Rourke hurled a long bomb to Contessa for Madisons’ first score, making it 8-6. The Dodgers never looked back, with a 30 yard carry by Candelario behind brilliant blocking by Skyler Pastro, Joe DeMarzo and Vacchiano, and Contessa scored his second on a 35 yard scramble in the fourth to seal the deal for the Dodgers. Coach Mantone was beaming when he said “ The boys showed heart,determinatioin Dodger pride and a bend but don’t break attitude.”Madison takes its 2-1 record to Jefferson next Saturday night.
