Mustangs set for clash with Bound Brook

Season finale pits two playoff teams for first time

By: Rudy Brandl
   This one should be fun.
   Recent high school football games between Manville and Bound Brook have been entertaining, but the 2006 battle could turn into a classic. This year’s holiday game will be played on Thanksgiving Eve at Bound Brook’s LaMonte Field at 7 p.m.
   For the first time in well over a decade, both schools enter the game with winning records. Both teams qualified and were eliminated from the Central Jersey Group 1 playoffs. The similarities don’t end there.
   The Mustangs (6-3) and Crusaders (7-2) quietly have been gunning for this matchup since the beginning of the season. Neither team could afford to put too much focus on the game or look that far ahead since each was busy having its own big season. It wasn’t like in past years when both teams were struggling. There were playoff games to think about this year.
   But now, after nine games against other teams, including eight of the same opponents, it has come down to this. One final game between two local small school rivals playing the biggest game of the season.
   "All the seniors have been waiting for this our whole lives," Manville senior quarterback Mike Knitowski said. "We have a lot of beef between each other. We just want to take it to them."
   It will be the final game of the season for both schools. Bound Brook, ranked fourth and in the Central Jersey Group 1 playoffs for the first time since 1978, suffered a 41-21 elimination loss to Keansburg. Manville, seeded eighth and in the state playoffs for the first time in school history, dropped a 35-14 quarterfinal game at No. 1 South River.
   MHS and Bound Brook have defeated Newark Central, Bernards, Princeton Day School, Dayton, St. Joseph’s of the Palisades and South Hunterdon and lost vs. Valley Division champ Belvidere. The only difference between the teams is their result against North Warren. The Crusaders defeated North Warren early in the season, while the Mustangs were shut out in Blairstown in late October.
   None of those games will matter on Thanksgiving Eve. For the first time in many years, two very good football teams will line up against each other. Both squads have something to prove. The Mustangs certainly want to avoid ending the season on a four-game losing streak.
   "It means everything," MHS senior running back Tommy Rock said. "We can sum up our whole high school career against them. We both made the states this year. We both want to prove we’re better."
   While the teams have similar resumes, they don’t play the same way. Manville relies on a punishing ground game behind a big offensive line, while Bound Brook likes to spread the field and throw to its speedy wide receivers.
   Rock and fellow senior Leo Rodriguez have been productive out of the backfield, while Knitowski is a double threat with his legs and arm. Kyle Sopko has become Knitowski’s favorite receiver.
   Bound Brook quarterbacks Chris Jeskie (12 TD passes) and Jordan Hawkins (1,114 passing yards) have embraced new head coach Kevin Carty Jr.’s pass-happy offense. With receivers like Deven Baker (817 yards, 13 TDs) and Erron Banks (546 yards), any quarterback would love to air it out.
   Manville’s biggest challenge in this game will be defending the pass. The Mustangs must bring pressure at the line of scrimmage and force Jeskie and Hawkins to throw quickly. The MHS defensive backs, especially corners Rock and Sopko, have to contain Baker and Banks.
   Don’t be surprised to see Knitowski on defense as a safety or corner in this game. He saw some action as a safety at South River in passing situations and expects to play more defense in his last high school football game.
   "I’m definitely playing both ways," Knitowski said. "They have Baker and Banks, but Tommy and I can get up there."
   Manville expects to have the edge in the trenches, but Bound Brook is faster and more explosive. If the Mustangs can turn this into a physical, ball-control game, they can win. If it becomes a wild shootout, that favors the Crusaders.
   The weather conditions also could play a role. A cold or wet night will help the Mustangs and their grind-it-out style. Warmer weather and a fast, dry track will allow Bound Brook’s speed demons to do their thing.
   Bound Brook will be looking to avenge last year’s 27-21 overtime loss to the Mustangs. The Crusaders lead the all-time series 28-18 with two ties.
   The teams could have met in the first round of the CJ 1 playoffs if the Mustangs had defeated North Warren, but that didn’t materialize. The fans will have to settle for the season finale on Thanksgiving Eve.