Grandinetti kicks Shore into finals against Rams
Shore tops Spotswood
in scrappy CJ Group I
semifinal brawl
CHRIS KELLY Shore Regional linebacker Matt Geraud delivers one of many big hits on Spotswood tailback Kyle Harkins during the Blue Devils’ 6-3 CJ Group I semifinal win in Spotswood on Saturday.
Ask any number of football coaches what wins playoff games, and the word "defense" usually trickles from their lips.
On Saturday, Spotswood hosted Shore Regional for a NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I semifinal matchup, and both defenses came to play, resulting in a low-scoring, 6-3 game.
The visiting Blue Devils came away with a win behind the foot of Ben Grandinetti, who split the uprights twice in the fourth quarter.
"I was really nervous when I had to kick both of the field goals," said the senior quarterback and place-kicker. "I knew if I made them, we’d have a good shot at winning the game with the way our defense was playing.
DAWN MARIE SANNWALDT Shore Regional’s Dan Carhart runs for a touchdown that was called back due to a penalty during the Blue Devils’ 6-3 win in Spotswood on Saturday.
"Spotswood came to play, and their defense had a great game. And so did we," he added. "Even though we weren’t producing much on offense, our defense came to their home field and kept them from scoring a touchdown. We all played with a lot of heart. Now we have to rest a little, and get ready to face South River in the finals."
In a game where a combined total of 64 carries amassed only 143 yards of rushing, and the ball was thrown for only 140 total yards (on 21 attempts), each team pulled whatever tricks they could to score.
Early on, Shore unsuccessfully tried to penetrate deep into Charger territory on a flea-flicker pass, while Spotswood used what could only be described as a play-action, delayed-draw play as their attempt at trickery.
However, despite the inventive maneuvers attempted by both coaches, not one touchdown was scored.
Neither team registered a single point until an interception by Dustin Katcher sparked a Spotswood field goal midway through the third quarter.
After a scoreless first half, Shore began the third quarter by receiving the kickoff. Following an 18-yard return by Jessie Leonard, the Blue Devils only earned four yards on a sweeping carry by Dan Carhart, before turning the ball over to their host.
The Chargers took control on Shore’s 44-yard line, then marched to the 11 on seven carries and one pass. The ninth play of the drive featured the flea-flicker, which only earned Kyle Ust one yard before Gabe Pompei pulled him to the ground.
With Shore’s large defensive line blocking Spotswood’s attempts all day, the Chargers decided to attempt a 27-yard field goal, which was successful.
"I’m very proud of every kid who stepped on the field today," said Spotswood head coach John Fiore. "A lot of people thought Shore was going to score a lot of points against us, behind their bigger offensive line, but that wasn’t the case.
"These kids did a great job this year. We graduated a lot of talented kids last year, so a lot of people didn’t think we would be successful this year. A lot of these kids have been playing together since Pop Warner, and have a tremendous amount of heart. Even though we were outweighed by 30 to 40 pounds across the line all day, you saw the level of their desire by the way they handled Shore today."
It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that Shore finally recorded their first points of the game. Sparking a 30-yard field goal scoring drive was Joe Toccacelli, who recovered a Spotswood fumble on the host’s 14-yard line.
Following three ineffective plays, Shore coach Marc Costantino turned to Grandinetti for the field goal. Seconds after the ball was snapped, the visiting spectators roared in jubilation as the kick split the uprights for a 30-yard field goal.
With only 43 seconds left in the game the Blue Devils took their first lead of the game, this time on a 25-yard field goal.
In the closing seconds of the semifinal matchup, Spotswood tried to gain field advantage by taking to the air.
Unfortunately, the first snap was fumbled; the second resulted in a 16-yard reception for Ust; and with only four seconds left, Leonard sealed the game with his second interception of the game. In the battle of the numbers, Shore only managed 48 yards of rushing, while passing for 55. On the other side of the field Spotswood ran the ball for just 95 yards, and had 85 yards of passing.
Shore will take the next week off without having a regularly scheduled game to play on Thanksgiving.
The Blue Devils will return to the gridiron a final time for 2001 when they travel to Kean University, Union, on Dec. 1 to face unbeaten South River in the CJ Group I championship game.