Varsity Dodgers Finish As League Champions
The Madison Dodgers eight grade varsity team completed their season with a solid win over the 6-2 Lenape Valley Indians by a score of 24-0. The win allowed the Dodgers to capture both the conference and divisional title with a record of 8-1. The Dodgers won their last four games by a margin of 96-18.
In three of the last four games the Dodgers were up 32-0 at half.
In the final game, as Madison’s players took the field for their final junior football game they were met by many of the high school players who came down to the MRC fields to show their support. The high school team had just come off a stunning 35-13 upset of the previously unbeaten Hanover Park high school team. Many of the eight grade players were there the night before in support, standing on the sideline of the high school game with their Madison jerseys on.
When asked why the high school players were there Head Coach Scott Spelker responded that he had reached out to many former players and asked them to come out to the game to support the eighth graders as they played for the championship. “ I was a little surprised by how many came to the game.These kids had other things they could be doing on a Saturday night and it just shows how great the level of support there is between the high school and junior football programs.”
The Junior Dodgers did not disappoint with an opening drive that culminated in a thirty five yard TD pass that had backup QB Ryan Kleiven taking the snap from center and throwing it out to QB Tommy Orourke who then withstood a heavy pass rush and threw it 25 yards downfield to a streaking Billy Rojak for the score. Orourke converted on the extra point in what would be one of his three extra point kicks of the night.
The stingy Dodger defense held Lenape to three and out and Madison went back to work on offense behind the blocking of Shane Heskitt, Marcos Alamada, Austin Schmitz, Henry Ticknor, and Jack Miccholotti. The offensive line, coached by Joe Demarzo, Jared Parrett and Matt Spelker blew open huge holes in the Lenape defense allowing running backs Joe Luppino and Steven Herrera to rack up first down after first down. The Dodgers scored on their second possession to go up 16-0. With under a minute left in the half Madison was knocking on Lenapes door yet again when they decided to kick a 44 yard field goal with seven seconds left in the half. Hardly anyone except the Dodgers thought it was a legitimate attempt and Lenapes defense lined up for a fake. Who could blame them? Tommy Orourke had been kicking off all night to the five yard line and had even punted the ball into the end zone while standing on Madison’s own 35 yard line earlier in the game. Former all state kicker and coach Mike Mantone said, “he has the best leg in the league by far and is the best kicker I have ever seen in my 25 years as a junior football coach.” The kick, which was into the wind fell a hair short. Orourke regularly makes kicks from 35 yards out in practice and no one even notices anymore commented Special Teams coach Matt Baggett He is that good “
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The Dodgers took their 16-0 lead into the half and readied themselves for their final half of junior football. On their first possession of the half Madison was driving when an unexpected fumble put the ball back in the hands of Lenape Valley. Not to worry, the stingy Dodger defense led by coach Phil Garrubbo stifled every single attempt by the Indians to move the ball forcing punt after punt. “Coach Garrubbo commented that the defense had done a great job all year long holding opponents to just one score per game.” Defensive backs Vincent Costa,Eric Daley,Ryan O’Neal, Robert Williams and James Whalen did a great job containing the outside rush and shutting down the Lenape receivers all game long while defensive linemen Conal Nugent ,Richard Williams and Mitchell Raven thwarted the inside running game. With such a strong defense shutting down the Lenape scoring attack Madison soon found themselves with the ball and excellent field position. Madison scored again on another fantastic run by Steven Herrera putting an end to any hope of a late game comeback for the Lenape Valley Indians.
As the clock ran down on the game and the season this group of players would accomplish what they had set out to do several months earlier in the hot August sun. They had won it all!
Congratulations to our Junior Football Varsity Dodgers!!
