0-2 aside, Vikes not any worse than last year upon closer look

By: Ken Weingartner
   At 0-2, the South Brunswick High football season seems to be a mirror reflection of last year’s start in which the Vikings went unbeaten in their first two games.
   But taking a closer look at that reflection reveals it not to be entirely true. At least that’s the way coach Mark Prelewicz views it.
   South Brunswick is in no worse shape than it was last year, when the Vikings finished the campaign 7-3 and just missed the state sectional playoffs on a tiebreaker. How so? Last season, SB lost its non-conference game and lost to Sayreville; and that’s exactly what the squad has done again this year.
   "We’re in the same spot we were last year," Prelewicz said after the Vikings lost to Sayreville 29-6 last week. "Obviously, it stinks being 0-2; it looks a little different. But it’s the same situation. We just have to stay with it."
   The loss to Sayreville in 2005, which came in Week 6, was the Vikings’ final setback of the season as they went on a four-game win streak to close the year.
   Because of the Rosh Hashanah holiday, this week’s game is being played tonight (Thursday), 7 p.m., in Piscataway. South Brunswick’s only other loss last season came against the Chiefs.
   "Sometimes, a short week like this can be good," Prelewicz said. "We’re close. They can feel it, too. We just have to make plays."
   Last week, South Brunswick trailed just 7-0 at the half and 14-6 entering the fourth quarter, but gave way. Sayreville’s time-consuming ground attack led to the Vikings only getting three meaningful possessions after intermission (not counting one in the final minute).
   "That’s what Sayreville does; they’re going to wear you out," Prelewicz said. "I thought the defense did great the first half, (but) Sayreville’s just going to find something and wear you down, and that’s what they did."
   Vikings quarterback Mohammed Sanu threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Ray Dasant for South Brunswick’s lone score. Sanu had two passes intercepted, one on a ball that deflected off a receiver, and several balls were dropped.
   "When we piece everything together, it’s going to look real pretty," said Joe Clancy, one of the team’s captains. "Everything’s just got to come together. It’s going to take hard work, dedication, practice, wanting to win; just the overall enthusiasm to win the game; just to go out there and play and make a statement.
   "We’re there; we’re that close," he added. "We’re going to get it together, I know it." Clancy: We just came out flat on defense. But when we piece everything together it’s going to look real pretty. We can’t be stopped once that happens. Everything’s just got to come together. It’s going to take hard work, dedication, practice, wanting to win. Just the overall enthusiasm to win the game; just to go out there and play and make a statement. That’s what it’s close. We’re there. We’re that close. We’re going to get it together, I know it."