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MANVILLE: Mustangs brace for Bound Brook challenge

Rivals to meet for 51st time

by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
   This year’s Manville-Bound Brook high school football game will have a different flavor than many of the past in this great Group 1 rivalry.
   As the Mustangs and Crusaders prepare to meet for the 51st time, there are many questions looming. When will the game be played? What kind of mental outlook will Bound Brook bring to the field? How will the Mustangs possibly match up with this undefeated juggernaut?
   The game is scheduled to be played on Thanksgiving Eve at Bound Brook’s Lamonte Field but may be moved to Friday or Saturday depending on Bound Brook’s status in the Central Jersey Group 1 playoffs. The Crusaders (9-0) remained undefeated with a comeback victory over Florence in the first round of the playoffs last Friday night and will host Metuchen in the CJ 1 semifinals this weekend.
   Manville brings a 3-6 record into the game after a 41-6 loss at Robbinsville in last Saturday’s CJ 1 consolation round. On paper, the Mustangs don’t match up well with Bound Brook. However, this football game will be played on grass with a myriad of intangible elements.
   ”Head-to-head, everything has to work for us to be competitive in that game,” Manville head coach Brett Stibitz said. “It’s going to be a different kind of Manville-Bound Brook game. If they’re out of the playoffs or if they’re still in the playoffs, it’s going to be different.”
   If the Crusaders get upset by Metuchen, a surprise 12-10 winner at Shore Regional in the first round, they’ll likely bring a nasty demeanor to the field against Manville. If Bound Brook wins and advances to the sectional final, head coach Kevin Carty Jr. might decide to rest his star players. Many teams in the middle of a state title run don’t place much emphasis on the holiday game that interrupts that quest.
   Bound Brook boasts some serious offensive weapons. Quarterback Mike Romanella and wide receiver Jordan Hawkins have connected for over 1,000 yards in aerial yardage this year. Hawkins, a championship sprinter, can fly. The Mustangs will be hard-pressed to defend him.
   Romanella has passed for 1,725 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. Hawkins has been on the receiving end of most of the damage with 54 catches for 1,037 yards and 14 scores.
   If Manville loads up the secondary, the Crusaders have two big guns out of the backfield. They can pound them with bruising sophomore running back Andrew Campolattano, the defending state wrestling champion at 189 pounds. Campolattano has rushed for 789 yards and six touchdowns.
   Fullback Andrew LaFleur has scored 10 touchdowns, including nine on the ground. Campolattano is also the leader of the Bound Brook defense from his middle linebacker position.
   ”They’re good and they have a lot of weapons,” Stibitz said. “We’re just going into the game with 25 guys and we’ll play as hard as we can.”
   Stibitz loves to establish the run and eat the clock with his ground game. If the Mustangs can control the clock, they’ll be able to stay in this game.
   ”Our best defense is keeping the ball on offense and keeping them off the field,” Stibitz said. “We have to keep the ball out of their hands.”
   In most rivalries like this, records can be thrown out. The teams typically play harder for their small towns with pride on the line. That element remains intact for this game, but the Crusaders are bringing much more to the table than usual. The Mustangs are young, with only four seniors on the roster, but Stibitz is counting on them to play hard.
   ”There’s still a rivalry,” Stibitz said. “There are a lot of outside factors this time.”