Midnight Never Struck for Cinderella East Somerset Messenger Gazette December 1968.

Midnight never did strike for the Cinderella Bridgewater Raritan East High School football team this year. The Minutemen closed the season last week with a sparkling 7-1-1 mark undoubtedly one of the finest first year varsity records in the annuals of New Jersey football. Only an early season 19-6 loss to a strong Somerville Club prevented the upstart East eleven from achieving an un-beaten season as well as the Mid – State Conference Crown. For Minutemen Coach George Greiner the attainment of a one loss season with the school’s first senior team must stamp him as one of the state’s outstanding scholastic coaches. The fact that the former Gettysburg College Little All-American nominee is filling his first varsity job is especially noteworthy. Greiner was brought to the Central Jersey area as an assistant to B-R West mentor Chuck Nelson, a circumstance which made the first annual Bridgewater Township “East-West” game on Thanksgiving Day particular interesting. The teams battled to a 14-14 deadlock. Situation Complicated The pitfalls of a first full varsity season are difficult enough, but in the case of the Minutemen they were complicated by the fact they were full-fledged members of the tough Mid-State Conference. With a team of juniors a year ago, East took its lumps early in the year while playing a modified varsity slate, but finished strong for a 4-4 record. But the performance of the Minutemen this year exceeded the expectations of even their most ardent admirers, as they scored surprising wins over North Plainfield, South Plainfield, Watchung Hills, and Franklin. In fact, they fell to Somerville after a 6-6 halftime stalemate in an early – season contest – one which Minutemen followers would like to have replayed later in the year. What’s the Secret? What’s the secret to this almost instantaneous success? “Our kids had the greatest desire and dedication of any group I’ve ever seen. Our first eleven was reasonably well stocked with talent, but we were awfully thin after that. Yet even with several crucial injuries, especially to our key man – quarterback Mickey Haertel – they managed to get the job done.” Greiner said. “In our approach, mental attitude is 90 percent of the game. Our kids believed in themselves and they had an esprit-de-corps which never let up,” he said. Of course, a combination of astute coaching and some talented youngsters also had more than a little to do with the successful campaign. “We had four linemen who did a great job both ways,” the coach said. He was referring to ends Ray Marchuk and Gary Debes, and tackles Randy Grimes and George Herr. Grimes, a 6-2, 190 pounder, averaged at least seven unassisted tackles each game. Debers a Standout The lanky Debes, a 6-3, 185 pound junior, had 52 receptions for more than 600 yards. And on defense he was all over the field, being credited with 11 interceptions. Backfield talent also made the Minuteman machine roll. Speedy Mark Barrett, hard hitting Steve Heartel and blocking back Taras Dobusz were all major contributors to an offense that averaged better than 25 points per game. In establishing a football program at a new school, Greiner points to pressing needs in establishing attitude, personnel and facilities. “We had to actually recruit youngsters from the student body, appealing to their pride in a new school. As an example, four of this year’s starting linemen never played freshman football – their first year being at Bridgewater – West before opening of the new East facility.” Greiner said. Further Complications And to complicate matters, when the present seniors were sophomores – the first year of football at East – the team had to be bused several miles to and from practice each day, hardly an encouragement to youngsters in a new program. But Greiner lays the ease of transition to his coaching staff, which includes Dave Adam, a former grid captain at the University of South Carolina, Ray Koperwhats, Vince Bodino, Bill Apsley, Joe Panzarella and Jim Norton. But to Coach Greiner and his players, the difficult early problems were merely a price that had to be paid for the success of today. And if this year is any indication, B-R East football teams will be heard from for a long time to come.