Madison Seeks Redemption Against Summit

Coupled with the football team's opportunity to capture its second straight North Jersey Section 2, Group II championship on Friday night is an ironic subplot, as the Dodgers attempt to extend their two-season winning streak to 25 games against the last team to beat them.

It seems somewhat fitting that Madison will face Summit, the team that sent the Dodgers packing after the 2009 state semifinals, for a chance at the title—and maybe for a little redemption as well.

Even after having their perfect season of 2010 and with only two contributors from that season’s team on the current roster, some on this team still harbors some negative emotion about that game two years ago.

“It was a rough feeling two years ago, and now that we have another shot [at Summit], I’m glad that we do,” said senior captain Mike Finelli, who was a starter in 2009. “It’s a big game on a big stage, it’s the perfect way to give payback.”

For others, a rivalry with Summit blossomed early in their athletic careers. But that loss in 2009 is the most recent—and painful—in a long series of losses.

“Ever since third grade lacrosse, I don’t think I’ve ever beaten Summit,” senior captain and tight end Ben Anderson said. “This is my last shot and I don’t think I could ever be more pumped. Beating them on Friday will show how far we’ve come as a program. It’s a big deal to beat them."

On Friday night, the matchup of these North 2, Group II powers offers Madison the chance to take something back from the team that robbed them of a state finals appearance in 2009.

And the Dodgers appear ready.

“There’s definitely a lot of rivalry between us, because they’re the last ones to beat us in 24 wins now,” said senior Dilan Kluge, who was also a contributor as a sophomore during Madison's last loss. “We have a lot of different weapons that we can use, and we’re going to give them all we’ve got.”

The prospect of facing a Summit team that has rattled off 11 straight wins of its own—a team that boasts an offense that posted a 43-point-per-game average this season—hasn’t been able to unnerve the Dodgers' confidence.

“A game is a game,” running back Shone Register explained. “If we win or lose, we’re still going to give it our all. When the time comes, the team will be ready.”

Madison head coach Chris Kubik believes that while this may be his team's toughest test since the start of the 24-game winning streak, he doesn't plan to shy away from the approach that has earned his team back-to-back trips to the state final game. 

“On paper they’re the best team we’re going to play, and I’m sure a lot of people are going to pick them to beat us,” he said. “But it’s going to come down to matchups on Friday and how well we’re going to perform.”

“We’re going to do what we do, we’re going to play fast and physical,” Kubik continued. “That’s what we do. We’re going to run to the ball, try to pressure them, we’re going to mix up a couple of fronts and make them work a little bit. At the end of the day, you’ve got to play the game. It’s not brain surgery what’s going on.”

Undeterred by failing to get an invite to play at the Meadowlands for the second year in a row, Madison actually appears happy to head back to Kean University once again.

While Kubik admitted the MetLife Stadium snub left some on the team disappointed—albeit for a very short time—he’s confident that his team will play hard, no matter what the venue.  

“There was a lot of talk of us going to the Meadowlands, just like there was last year,” he said. “And I think we were disappointed probably for about an hour, but the site doesn’t make the game. If we had to play in a parking lot, if we had to play neutral site high school field, it really doesn’t matter to us at the end of the day. We’ll play it anywhere and we’re pretty pumped up.”

Anderson and fellow senior captain Steven Finelli see the familiar location playing in Madison's advantage.

“I think it does help,” Anderson said. “We’re used to the crowd noise, we remember what it was like to play there, so I think that will help in the overall game experience.”

“A lot of us know what the pressure is going to be like, and what the atmosphere is going to be like,” Finelli explained. “Being in the same place, we’re going to be ready for it.”

No matter the venue, how long with winning streak or who the opponent, Kubik says his Dodger group is focused on the No. 1 goal at hand.

"The kids aren’t talking about 24 wins. That doesn’t matter to them," Kubik said. "Winning back-to-back state championships, that game is going to mean something to us. But we’ll count the wins after."