Janner starred in team’s two victories
By: John E. Powers
The Manville Ponies Pop Warner team’s season, recently completed with a 14-0 loss to Middlesex, was highlighted by wins over Metuchen and Roselle Park.
The Ponies, who finished the season with a 2-6 record, beat Roselle Park 13-0 and Metuchen 39-25. Running back Nick Janner had three touchdowns when the Ponies knocked off Metuchen.
Janner, a defensive end on defense, sparked the Roselle Park win with a strip and outside linebacker James McCarthy’s fumble recovery got the Ponies going on the Manville 45. Three long runs were key in the 6-play, 55-yard scoring drive that was capped by Janner’s 14-yard run. Janner started the drive with a 25-yard scamper. An 11-yard keeper by quarterback Matt Veglatte followed. An extra point pass attempt from Veglatte to tight end Matt George was incomplete.
A third-quarter goal line stand sparked the Ponies to extend their lead. Roselle Park used 14 plays to drive to the Manville four. But Park, set up with a first down at the four, didn’t score as tackles Nick Herenza and Travis Keastead and nose guard Jake Caswell were outstanding.
Janner came up with runs of 25 and 14 yards, but Roselle Park forced the Ponies to punt and Herenza responded with a 30-yard boot. After safety Andre Heredia recovered a fumble on the Park 48, Janner scored on a 48-yard run to give Manville a 12-0 lead. Quarterback Heredia followed with a extra point conversion to make it 13-0.
"Although the record doesn’t show it, were in every game we played outside of a couple," head coach Dave Janovsky said. "Our kids showed a lot of heart and dedication all year.
"With our small numbers of players, we had to work much harder, so we were ready to play entire games with minimal substitutions," the coach added. "Looking back over the season, we the coaches saw improvement of each player from those long hot days in August to their first game in October."
The Ponies’ roster consisted of Anthony "AJ" Bocchino (OG/DT), Jake Caswell (OG/DT), Scott Caswell (NG), Matt George (TE/OLB), Marc Hagin (NG), Joe Hanover (FB), Nick Harenza (HB/DT), Andre Heredia (DE/OT/QB), Nick Janner (HB, DE), Travis Keastead (OT/DT), James McCarthy (C/LB), Tristan Jaime (FS), Joe Veglatte (TE/SS), Matt Veglatte (QB/MLB) and Anthony Zuhone (OT/DT).
Janovsky’s assistant coaches were John McCarthy, Tony Carannante, Joe Hanover and Ron Zuhone. The team commissioner was Bonnie Wisniewski and the team mom was Ann McCarthy.
"They contributed in molding these fourth, fifth and sixth graders into one team," Janovsky said. "They taught them that you not only win as a team, but we lost as a team. If this was the only item any of the players learned this season, then we as coaches were successful. For it is easy to walk when you win, but it is so much harder to keep your head high when you do not. Our Ponies did keep their heads high, for they knew they did their best and this is all we as coaches can ask of them."