Nov. 1, 2024
By Tyler Herman
Staff Writer
Following its 7-14 defeat at the home opener against Becton Regional High School on Aug. 29, the football team made a comeback. In the following five games, the Golden Bears did not allow a single point to be scored against them.
The team finished its regular season on Oct. 25 with a 7-1 record. It will compete in the quarterfinal round of the state tournament at an away game against Ramsey High School on Nov. 1.
Senior captain and quarterback Shawn Bellenger, a four-year varsity member who committed to play on the University of Rochester’s Division III team, said he has been happy with his team’s performance.
“This season [was] better [compared to last season] but has seemed a little less challenging due to the teams we [were] playing and the work ethic we are putting in,” Bellenger said. “Some teams that we played last year [were] top teams in our [New Jersey Interscholastic Conference].”
These teams included Butler and Park Ridge High Schools, which were No. 1 seeds in their respective state tournaments, and No. 2 seed Rutherford High School.
“We’ve been working since the summer, and not a lot of people want to put in [the] work, run sprints and be mentally tough.”
Bellenger–who leads the team alongside senior captains Anthony Amaro, Michael Longo and Roddy Morinho–said he has a lot of responsibilities on and off the field.
“As the quarterback and leader of the offense, I have to know what everyone is doing on the field at all times. And off the field, an example of something I have to look out for is making sure everyone is on time to school and their classes,” Bellenger said.
Junior tight end Matthew Jarvis, who joined varsity as a freshman, attributes the players’ success to their intense practices.
“We’ve been working since the summer, and not a lot of people want to put in [the] work, run sprints and be mentally tough,” Jarvis said.
With the NJIC championship out of reach because of its Aug. 29 loss, Jarvis said the team is focusing on the bigger goal of winning the state championship.
“It isn’t going to be easy, [but] we just have to keep putting in the work and get the job done,” Jarvis said.
Longo, a three-year varsity player who plays center and nose guard, said he wants his team to redeem itself following the outcome of last year’s state playoffs, in which the Golden Bears lost 30-33 in the first round against Newton High School.
“We had almost completed the comeback but fell just short,“ Longo said. “That disappointment lit a spark in not only me, but the entire team. We [are] coming back [for] revenge.”
Longo said he has a feeling the remainder of the season will be remarkable.
“This season is different due to the mindset of the players and coaches. The atmosphere for all our practices, walkthroughs, dinners and games [has] had a different air around them, like something special is brewing in the program,” said Longo.
