By: Shawn Tyrrell
Just when it seemed things could get no worse for the Manville High School football team, they did.
Not only did MHS lose its third consecutive game and fifth on the year, but more importantly the team lost starting quarterback Rich Maychrich, most likely for the remainder of the season. Maychrich was involved in a car accident in the middle of the week and broke his collar bone.
Manville had high hopes going into the contest against David Brearley. The Mustangs had some injuries, but nothing could prepare them for the loss of Maychrich and it showed as Manville committed five turnovers and dropped a lopsided 35-14 decision to the visiting Bears.
The first half was undoubtedly the team’s worst of the season. Head coach Steve Venuto knew going in that it would be tough, especially without Maychrich and some other key players.
"Things are not looking too good," Venuto said. "We had to make the best of the situation. Richie was one of our leaders and to lose him, of course, is going to have an impact. We did the best that we could considering."
The Mustangs were also without backup QB Robert Snyder, who has been out with a separated shoulder. Also not able to play were Travis Curley (hip) and Bernard Chaballa, who has been out all year with a back problem. There was also a host of other players who were sick with the flu.
To say that Venuto had some depth problems going in to the game was an understatement. He noted that the "number of players out reminded him of his first season back in 1997," when a rash of injuries hit Manville.
But the game had to be played, and with a revamped and simplified playbook, MHS took the field.
The Mustangs got the ball as Brearley deferred the kickoff. Following an offside penalty, the Manville offense turned the ball over on a fumble and the Bears got the first break they would capitalize on. It seemed the MHS defense would hold as on third and five from the Mustang 36 yard-line, linebacker Tom Kosensky sacked Brearley quarterback Richie Sporer for a six-yard loss.
The Bears went for it and Sporer connected with Billy Fitzgerald on a 38-yard pass completion putting the ball on the four-yard line. Three plays later, Bears running back Giancarlo Pesantez went over the goal line) and with just over three minutes gone by MHS trailed 7-0.
The Manville offense was stymied as the Brearley defense, which was tough all night, forced a punt. Brearley took over and in five plays increased the lead to 14-0. Faced with a third and seven from the Mustang 44, Sporer once again connected with Fitzgerald, this time for 36 yards and a first down at the Manville eight-yard line. Two plays later, Sporer took it in from two yards out on a quarterback keeper.
The Mustangs gave it right back with a fumble on second down and again Brearley took advantage. Six plays later Pesantez scored his second touchdown of the night and with 1:23 to go in the first quarter the score was already 21-0.
The teams then traded possessions and with 6:55 to go in the second quarter the Mustangs fumbled, this time giving Brearley a first down at the MHS 26-yard line. The connection of Sporer and Fitzgerald did the Mustangs in again with back-to-back pass plays for seven and 12 yards, with the second being good for the touchdown.
With 1:05 remaining in the half, MHS was forced to punt. Brearley got the ball and moved down the field and with 17 seconds left scored again as Steve Ferraoli went around right end from five yards out and made it 35-0.
The game at this point was over. Manville did a play a better second half, but the damage was already done. In the first half, Brearley held MHS to no first downs and three yards of total offense.
MHS did finally get on the board on a nice run by Kosensky on the first play of the fourth quarter. The senior back broke two tackles en route to a 49-yard touchdown run. The kick after by Thomas Kennedy made the score 34-7.
Manville got the ball right back as the Bear offense turned it over on a fumble, which was recovered by defensive end Ryan Gilmore. MHS moved the ball from the 49-yard line down the field as Kosensky was the catalyst carrying five times for 31 times and the touchdown from seven yards out.
This was again one of those nights. It doesn’t get any easier as Manville travels to New Providence to take on the Pioneers on Saturday at 1 p.m. This could be the best team MHS will face this year and it could be a long afternoon.
