NORTH CALDWELL- Whenever local rivals like Passaic Valley and West Essex meet, you can always count on lots of intensity, hard hitting and some controversy.
Friday night’s meeting in North Caldwell had all three.
The Knights defense came up with three stops in the redzone and got a pair of Jake Long touchdown runs to outlast the visiting Hornets 14-0 in a Super Football Conference Patriot White matchup at Travis Field. It was the fourth straight win for the Knights, after opening the season with losses to Old Tappan and Wayne Hills.
“(Assistant Coach Tim) Glenn put together a great game plan and the defense, the kids played lights out” said Knights coach Dan Fulton. “We knew their quarterback was gonna be out, they were gonna be a little more one-dimensional; but that Benvenuti kid’s a special player, so I didn’t sleep all week thinking we could stop him. I thought they had a good game plan, our kids did a good job answering and it’s always nice to shut people out.”
The PV offense asserted itself on their initial series.
Following a West Esses three-and-out, the Hornets started at their 29 and methodically drove the ball downfield, behind the running of QB Dante Benvenuti (27 carries, 120 yds,). Subbing for the injured Anthony Bagnuolo, he converted a pair of third downs and a 4th-and-8 from the WE 21. The drive lasted 16 plays, all but one on the ground, and took nine minutes. It came down to a 4th-and 2 from the Knights 3, and Benvenuti was stuffed on a keeper. Dylan Fiore led the way as a host of Knights combined on the stop.
“It’s rough. It’s always rough” admitted Fiore. “PV’s got a good defensive line and offensive line. It’s always a fight, no matter what team it is. You’ve got to come out firing. In the trenches it’s hard, always.”
Although West Essex did not score on the ensuing possession, they gained field position, and it would be critical when they began the next drive at their 34 with 4:20 left in the half.
A pair of runs by Long (15 carries, 143 yds., 2 TD) moved the ball to the 48. Facing a 3rd-and-1 from the PV 43, Long found room yup the middle, cut to the right and outran the Hornets defense for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 1:39 left in the half.
“As we kept driving down the field and getting some good runs, I knew we were gonna break one, and I was able to get inside the crease thanks to my linemen making those holes for me” said Long.
PV was able to drive to the Knights 21 with seconds remaining, but a Justin Perini interception ended the threat to keep the score 7-0 at the half.
The second half started off with a PV three-and-out, and the Knights needed only six plays to double their lead.
Starting at the WE 48, a 21-yard scamper by Max Osur moved the ball to the Hornets 31. An 11-yard pass to Rocco Pontrella moved the ball to the 21, and three plays later Long ran the option to the left, cut back over the middle and found the endzone for a 9-yard score to make it 14-0 with 6:44 left in the third.
The Hornets responded with another long drive to the redzone, only to come up empty for the second time. Starting at their 7, a 26-yard burst by Nick Huliev moved the ball to the PV40. Huliev then hauled in a pass from Benvenuti for 31 yards and a first down at the WE 30. An11-yard run by Benvenuti moved the ball to the 19. Facing 4th-and-6 from the 15, Benvenuti’s pass was momentarily caught in the endzone, but Anthony Conforti was able to strip the ball from the receiver and the pass was incomplete on the first play of the fourth quarter.
