Mustangs run all over St. Joe’s

Bell, Nurnberger score in football romp

by Shawn Tyrrell, Sports Writer
   After managing only one touchdown in the first two games of the season, the Manville High school football team erupted for 39 points, rolling to an easy 39-0 victory over visiting St. Joseph of Palisades last Friday night at Ned Panfile Stadium.
   The Manville offense had been able to move the ball against its two previous opponents but time and time again was unable to get into the end zone. Against the Blue Jays, they were finally able to put it all together. MHS gained 285 yards on the ground with 47 carries, while adding another 59 yards through the air.
   MHS head coach Brett Stibitz was very pleased with the overall effort and getting that first win.
   ”We executed well on both sides of the ball,” Stibitz said afterward. “We limited our mistakes and cut down on the turnovers and our defense really came out to play. This was a sound victory for a young team.”
   From the outset, the Mustang offense set the tone. Starting on the 37-yard line, the Manville offense steadily moved the ball down the field. The line did a great job blocking up front and 11 plays later, Manville quarterback Brendan Nurnberger broke two tackles to get into the end zone from nine yards out.
   There were two key plays that kept this drive going. Nurnberger fired a pass to tight end Ryan Jankowski that was good for 11 yards and a first down on a 3rd-and-9 attempt. The second came on a fourth down and one try at the 50, which MHS converted when junior running back Mark Walyga gained 10 yards for the first down. Walyga had a solid evening rushing gaining 88 yard on 15 carries, with most of those yards coming in critical spots.
   St Joe’s took over following the kickoff and managed to move the ball out to midfield. But MHS defender Joshua Michalski stepped in front of a Leonel Carranzo pass and returned the interception to the MHS 38-yard line.
   The Manville offense began another sustained drive, this time using 12 plays and taking over six minutes off the clock before Nurnberger went over from two yards out for the score. MHS also converted the two-point conversion when running back Angelo Bell hauled in Nurnberger’s pass to push the lead to 14-0 to with 10:06 remaining in the half.
   The Manville offense wasn’t quite finished. Following the team’s first punt of the game, St. Joe’s took over on its own 27-yard line. Manville defender Jake Piscadlo made a hard tackle on Blue Jay running back Pedro Garcia, who fumbled the ball. Bell recovered the loose pigskin and nearly returned it to the end zone. It didn’t matter because on the next play he took it in from 11 yards out and MHS had a commanding 21-0 lead.
   Manville again got on the board in the third quarter but this time it took only three plays. After a St. Joe’s punt, MHS took over on the Blue Jay 43-yard line. Consecutive runs by Walyga of five and 33 yards put the ball at the five. Michalski got the call and took it around right end and went untouched into the end zone. Michalski, who finished the night with 51 yards on seven carries, gave praise to the offensive line.
   ”They did a great job all night blocking,” Michalski said. “Overall we played a solid game and our defense really stepped up tonight. We took that emotion from the third quarter of last week’s game and used that to get us going from the start. We were well prepared, and hopefully we can use this win to help us get ready for next week.”
   Even with the commanding 27-0 lead MHS added scores on runs of two and 16 yards by Bell, who also had a big game with 73 yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns.
   It was one of those nights were everything went the Mustangs’ way.
   ”Tonight we did the things we needed to win,” Stibitz said. “The backs did a great job in waiting for the holes to open up and the linemen held their blocks to allow the backs to hit the holes. Hats off to the staff for having the kids in the right place on every play.”