Somerset Messenger Gazette
Fortunate because East’s next opponent Somerville played on Monday against South Plainfield, and Greiner was present and got an eyeful.
“It should be an interesting game” predicted the highly successful mentor fresh from his team’s opening game 26-8 victory
“We can’t pass too well, frankly, and Monday Somerville stopped South Plainfield’s running game. It seemed to be a typical Somerville Team – very explosive mentally prepared and well drilled.
There are some physical kids on Somerville and their backfield has the skilled kids as usual. In fact, although they lost, it looked like they outplayed South Plainfield.”
If Somerville outplayed South Plainfield however, then East demolished Watchung Hills.
The Minutemen rolled up 208 yards rushing and an additional 46 passing, and held a 26-0 lead before a desperate Warrior pass resulted in a 40 yard touchdown play in the final quarter.
Watchung managed a total offense of 68 yards with just four first downs.
“I thought we did a fine job for an opening game. It’s always nice to win.
“Offensively, we had no turnovers, which is something we always strive for, I thought the offensive line did an excellent job blocking, while the backs could do a little better in the future.”
The offensive line blockers consisted of center Ed Sandora, guards Mike Orshan and Bob Shedlosky, tackles Jeff Koch and Andy Voss, and tight end Dave Hoff.
“Defensively, our pass coverage was excellent. We were usually where we were supposed to be.”
Greiner praised linebacker Dave Schultz who had six unassisted tackles, tackle Rich Mroz, and linebacker Bill Wolfe who “played his usual hard-nosed game on offense and defense.”
Ken Siegrist piled up 123 yards and two touchdowns Sunday as the Minutemen stopped last year’s Mid-State Conference champions unbeaten streak at nine.
The Minutemen statistically dominated the game from the opening whistle. They took the opening kickoff and marched 71 yards in 11 plays for the score.
Siegrist churned out 70 of those yards on the ground in 10 carries. East quarterback Dan Wilbur then slipped into the end zone on a keeper for six points.
The try for the extra point failed.
East scored again in the second quarter. This time Siegrist took a scrambling leap into the end zone following an eight-play drive that started on the Watchung 35.
The try for the extra point failed once again as Dean Dilzel of Watchung brought Minuteman Dan Wilbur down short of the goal, leaving the score at 12-0.
The Minutemen’s next scoring opportunity came later in the second quarter when defensive end Hoff recovered a fumble on the Watchung 49-yard line.
The East drive got as far as the Watchung 36 before the Warrior defense held on a fourth-and-four situation.
With a second and nine for Watchung, quarterback Ken Barret’s pass was intercepted by Minuteman Steve Sacco who was stopped on the Watchung 43.
East started a third period touchdown drive when Wilbur intercepted on the East 43 and ran it to the Watchung 43. Ten plays later Siegrist took the handoff from Wilbur and ran three yards into the end zone, making it 18-0 in favor of the Minutemen. The extra point attempt failed when Warrior Dan Glebel blocked the kick.
East halfback Jeff Vanderbeek, who had been running in Siegrist’s shadow most of the afternoon, scored the last Minutemen tally on a four yard run, with a key block coming from fullback Wolfe, capping a 48-yard drive. Vanderbeek also scored the two extra points, putting East ahead 26-0 with four seconds left in the quarter.
Vanderbeek was Bridgewater’s second longest ground gainer compiling 84 yards in 15 carries.
East gained another opportunity to score in the last quarter when Barrett was swarmed by the East defense. Barrett fumbled and it was recovered by Shedlosky on the Watchung 16.
The Warrior defense held again when East was stopped three yards short of the six-yard line on fourth down.
Watchung took over on its own nine. Four plays later the defense swarmed Barrett again. He managed to get the ball in the air, and it sailed into the arms of Minuteman Mike Brophy.
With 5:05 left in the game, Watchung took over on their own 35 and the rain came pelting down. Barrett threw 25 yards to Bill Brenn, who was stopped by Gary Bernard.
On the next play Barrett lateraled to end Bill Brenn who threw to tight end Tom Dugan for 40 yards for the Watchung touchdown.
East’s game with Somerville, another Mid-Conference foe, will take place Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at John Basilone Memorial Field, Bridgewater.
