Haderer, MHS target playoffs
By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Mike Haderer knew this year would be different.
”I feel like I went from the bottom to the top,” said Haderer, a senior linebacker on the Montgomery High football team. “Last year I was a junior and we had a lot of seniors on defense and they were the leaders. This year I’m one of the few seniors we have on defense and I have to be a leader.
”I have to try to take control out there more because we have a lot of new players who are not as experienced. So I talk a lot and move people around. It’s a lot more responsibility on my shoulders.”
Haderer has moved nicely into his new role as a leader on the defense. He leads the team with 43 tackles and last week helped the Cougars even their record at 2-2 with a 34-0 win over Voorhees.
”It was a good confidence boost for everyone,” Haderer said of the win over Voorhees. “Outside of the second half of the game against Immaculata, we’ve played pretty well all season. Even in that game, we played well in the first half and we were up, 7-6, at halftime. But in the second half we did not do well. But it was a good experience for us to compete against a very good team and to hold our own with them for the first half.
”With all of the inexperience we have, we feel like we’ve done all right. We have a lot of growing to do. But we already have a couple of victories and it would be real big for our season if we could beat Monroe.”
Tonight, Montgomery travels to Monroe for what could be the biggest game this year. Monroe, which is 3-1, currently leads Central Jersey Group III in power points. So a win for the Cougars would certainly give a boost to their hopes of making a return trip to the CJ IV playoffs.
”Obviously, you want to win every game,” Montgomery coach Zoran Milich said. “But being 2-2 at this point is OK. This next game is very big for us. It might determine our season. If we win, we’re over .500 and the playoffs are something in our reach. Monroe is a real good team and they’re also fighting for the playoffs. I think this is going to be a game that comes down to the end and whichever team makes the plays at the end of the game is going to win.”
After suffering huge graduation losses from the team that went 9-2 a year ago, the fact the Cougars are even thinking about the playoffs this year is a nice accomplishment. But this team has come together nicely and has put itself into position to think about the playoffs.
”We lost a lot of key players from the team we had last year,” Haderer said. “We lost our quarterback, running back and four linemen. And we lost a lot of key players on defense. But we’re getting it together and everyone is growing at the same pace and learning on the fly now.
”We’ve been in about every game this season. We’ve already played two of the best teams on our schedule with Ridge and Immaculata. We know we have a lot of tough games ahead, but we’re hoping we can do well.”
Haderer has certainly done his part. He’s one of four starters back on the defense, which other than a tough second half against Immaculata has played well all year.
”Mike is the heart and soul of our defense in the middle,” Milich said. “He’s started since midway through his sophomore year. He played half of that year and all of last year, so now he is a real veteran as a middle linebacker. We moved him this year into the position where (Alex) Colarusso was last year.
”He was an All-Conference player last year and this year he’s stepped up and played fantastic. He’s one of the guys we lean on.”
And he’ll be leaned on tonight, as the Cougars look to put themselves right in the middle of the playoff race.

