1972 Members of the RHS Football TeamFront row, left to right: Kevin Harper, Paul Thomas, Jeff, Lacker, Chris "Sundance Kid" Cassidy, Jim Ranton, John "Capt Jack" Wescott (Co-Captain), Craig "Hopey" Hopewell (Co-Captain), Paul "Root" Vinroot, Arne Olsen, Gary Jones, John Rymer.
Second row: Paul Schneidenbach, Steve Frankel, Jim Bakelaar, Stacy Williams, Dan "Brad" Bradley, Gary "Vuke" Vukov, Dave Burdick, Warren Lessing, Paul "Atella the Hun" Atella, Jack "Wolfman Jack" Wolfstirn, Jeff "Spider" Lockhart.
Third row: Tom Wright, Paul Albus, Tom "Nip" Nepola, Chuck Haag, John Boulton, Keith Dezen, Kevin Cronyn, Jeff Kauffman, Bob Groat, Paul Adamo.
Fourth row: Dave Dirkswager, Jim Van Yperen, Steve "Monk" Molyneaux, Andy Rodman, Mike Kayes, Jon Kinne, Ken Weber, Paul Mayer, Woody Morgan, Paul Degener.
Fifth row: Roger Sweeney aka "Roger Ramjet" or "Roger the Dodger" (Head Coach), Jim "Hop Sing" Lyons (Trainer), Chris Harrington (Manager), Art "Gerie" Geiringer (Manager), Paul "Get off the Schneid" Schneidenbach (Assistant Coach), Tom "Rookie" LeBlanc (Assistant Coach), Jim "Mr. 4-Squares" Reamer (Assistant Coach).
Missing from photo: Pete Miles, Joe "Coach Barcalounger" Barkocy (Assistant Coach), Fern "Go Go" Gomez (Assistant Coach). (Photo from the collection of John Wescott)
Thanks to the hard work of John Wescott who has painstakingly put together the near-perfect Ridgewood High School 1972 NNJIL championship season! John takes us game by game. Captain Jack also gave me some trivia about practices, etc. which I have written about.
The following is quoted from the Ridgewood High School 1972-73 "Booster" book - the book was given to us at the start of each year and contained general information on everything school related. At the time, our school was classified as a group IV school. An excerpt from the sports section reads: "Competition in the NNJIL is keen and the calibre of play excellent on the part of every team. Ridgewood enjoys a fine reputation in the league for its ruggedness, spirit, and sportsmanship..................." Go Ridgewood!
Above are all the coaches in the entire RHS football program Freshman-Varsity in 1972.
Above, the classic view from the steps in front of our school. Seems like only yesterday the 1972 Maroons rocked that field!If you were a senior member (Class of 1973) of this team, a coach, the manager or trainer - PLEASE get in touch with me at cmadbase@yahoo.com - we want each one of you to sign about 25-30 team photos. If you have candid photos of your time as a player or from that season please also contribute. Also, if you have any stories regarding the team, the games or anything about the Class of 1973 - please let us know!
In addition, we are looking for the names and addresses of all those present on the night of the Fair Lawn water tower incident! We know the names of the 3 major guys. John has located Scott Gutting. Nick Lagos and Chris Ferraro if you're out there please get in touch. We also need to know who was on the ground that night. We need to get photos signed for this as well.
Not to be left out does anyone know where people like Patti Vanlenten, Jean Woodcock are? We are trying to find all Class of '73 members of the Varsity cheerleaders, twirlers and color guard. We need to get you to sign photos too! So far we know where Jan Potdevin and Janis Offringa are.
The stars were definitely aligned for the RHS 1972 varsity football team. The coaches were the right coaches and the players had as much chemistry together as any team in the league.
Above, a banner sold at RHS football games. From the collection of Rick Flannery.
For the team, before the season started - before school even started - came the dreaded conditioning and workouts. Everybody dreaded the 6 minute mile run with gear. Workouts were 2 times a day. As Co-Captain John Wescott recalls "I don't remember water breaks. Salt tablets yes, water breaks no!" When you pay your dues the way these guys did - the commitment - it's what makes the winning of this title so sweet!
For the team, before the season started - before school even started - came the dreaded conditioning and workouts. Everybody dreaded the 6 minute mile run with gear. Workouts were 2 times a day. As Co-Captain John Wescott recalls "I don't remember water breaks. Salt tablets yes, water breaks no!" When you pay your dues the way these guys did - the commitment - it's what makes the winning of this title so sweet!
The Drills
"Bull in the Ring" - a linebacker drill. One guy in the middle surrounded by 5 other players. The man in the middle would be charged at one at a time. The linebacker was to fend him off by using the "Forearm Shiver" a term for when a linebacker sheds an opponent trying to block him.
"Bull in the Ring" - a linebacker drill. One guy in the middle surrounded by 5 other players. The man in the middle would be charged at one at a time. The linebacker was to fend him off by using the "Forearm Shiver" a term for when a linebacker sheds an opponent trying to block him.
"Clown Rolls" - one of a number of agility drills. As John describes it, if in a game you were blocked to the ground, the "Clown Roll" teaches you to roll, jump up and get back in the play. "Up-Downs" were another conditioning drill.To remind players about the danger of using new shoes at the summer practices, Coach Sweeney would say, "Those better not be new shoes! Who has blisters on their feet?" The amount of running and conditioning this team did would make it obvious that this was not the time to be breaking in new shoes! There were a lot of used and abused ankles and feet!
Above, "Those better not be new shoes!"Practices were tough and all business. Coaches calling out "You gotta give me a forearm shiver!" and "Let's hit the sled!" and "Ok everyone, sprint lap!"
Above, among those leading the pack are Arne Olsen #59, Craig "Hopey" Hopewell #41, "Captain Jack" Wescott #61, Kevin Harper #38, Chris Cassidy #88, Jack "Wolfman Jack" Wolfstirn #64 and Paul "Atella the Hun" Atella #11.At the end of practice Coach Reamer would call out, "Wind sprints. Guards and tackles first. First one to win 3 gets to hit the showers first. Wescott, you run with the backs and ends." As Captain Jack puts it, "In the beginning, I ran with the linebackers and linemen. I was fast for that group.........I won each race and would always be the first in the locker room when it came to that group. Plus we were the first group to run. Reamer gets wise to this and tells me to switch and run with the backs and ends. I guess this was a week or so after getting showered.......before everyone else. Well, needless to say............no early shower after that!"
Above, Coach Jim Reamer - why is he smiling? Is it because Wescott is not first in the shower anymore?Hey I'm sure many of you remember the Friday night rumble with Paramus that never happened. The whole day was filled with the anticipation of it and I personally couldn't wait to get back to the school to be part of it! I was there that night with friends at the bus garage (and what was funny was I had a lot of friends from Paramus!!) A number of people were painting the old bus garage (tradition for the graduating class). The Ridgewood police had gotten wind of this possible fight with the Spartans (we only talked about it for like 2 weeks!) I'll never forget the cops (half of them dad's or guys we knew!) coming out of no where in about 4 cars. They had everyone climb down off the roof except there was one guy still painting - Andy Rodman! Stories like this do inevitably become embellished over time but as I remember it, we all called up to Andy to come down. With that and probably not realizing the commotion below, he proceeds to climb down with paint can in hand only to drop the can straight down right in front of a police officer - I forget who the officer was but man he was so cool about it! The look on both the cop's face and Andy's was priceless! Andy stood there with paint all over his hands as the officer wrote a summons for a new uniform!! It was pretty funny! Does anybody have a picture of the old garage with Class of '73 on the roof?
Above, Andy Rodman in a candid moment in a RHS window. He gets the prize for best paint job at the bus garage! Just how much did that police officer's new uniform cost anyway Andy?!Two other important members of this team included Jim "Hop Sing" Lyons and Art "Gerie" Geiringer. Jim was the team Trainer and Art was the team Manager. Jim was indispensible and so depended upon and always there. He taped ankles (the dreaded abused ankles!), taped knees, elbows, etc. He got the whirlpools ready. Repaired damaged helmets. Got the pads. According to Captain Jack, Jim was given the affectionate nickname "Hop Sing" by Steve Molyneaux! Art - known as "Gerie" (pronounced Gary) - set the towels out for the showers, took the game uniforms and put them in the laundry. He prepared the Gatorade for games, cut the tape off the knees, ankles, elbows, etc. Both guys were a major part of the wheel that drove RHS to the Championship!
By 1972, Roger Sweeney was in his 14th year of coaching RHS football. This was the year it all came together with some incredible football! The very first game on the schedule - an independent game against Englewood was cancelled. The season was made up of 8 games and the Maroons enjoyed a dominating run until late October that year! Here's the breakdown as put together by starting Right Guard and Co-Captain John Wescott.
Above, Coach Roger Sweeney aka "Roger Ramjet" who lead these guys to an extraordinary season!Hey Raaaaaannton!
RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
1972 NNJIL Championship Season Game by Game
The Fall 1972 RHS sports schedule - brought to you by Perdue's Sport Shop!
September 30, 1972 – Weber Aerials Lead Ridgewood Bomb Wayne Valley 31 - 7
WAYNE, NJ - Ken Weber made his varsity debut by firing four touchdown passes to pace Ridgewood to a surprising 31-7 rout of Wayne Valley in a Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League game. Weber completed five passes for 152 yards, and two of his TD tosses went to Jim Van Yperen. The Maroons defense caused six turnovers and the offense turned four of them into scores. Ridgewood also got a break on its first scoring drive, as it punted but retained possession on a Wayne Valley penalty. Two plays after the penalty, Weber fired a 15-yard scoring strike to Paul Albus for a 6-0 lead. In the second quarter, an interception gave the Maroons possession on the Wayne Valley 15 and it took them just three plays to score. Tom Nepola covered the final five yards on a burst up the middle. Ridgewood broke the game open in the third quarter, scoring twice in less than a minute. The Maroons recovered a Joe Corrao fumble on the Wayne Valley 40. After a running play for a short gain, Weber hit Mike Kayes for a 40-yard TD. The Indians then blundered on the ensuing kickoff, failing to cover the bouncing kick. The Maroons recovered on the Indians 30. It took just three plays for Ridgewood to score. Weber’s third TD pass covered 15 yards to Van Yperen. Ridgewood capitalized on another break to score its final TD. In the fourth quarter, John Wescott’s interception gave the Maroons possession on the Indians 29 and Weber covered the necessary yardage on a pass to Van Yperen. Wayne Valley finally got a break and put its sputtering offense together in the final minutes to avoid being shut out. The Indians recovered a fumbled punt on the Ridgewood 39 and marched for their score in eight plays. Wayne Valley quarter back Mark Aiello, who passed for 93 yards, capped the drive by sneaking in from the one with just 53 seconds remaining. The loss was the second for the usually strong Indians while Ridgewood opened its season on an impressive note.
October 7, 1972 - Groat Sparks Ridgewood Win Over Teaneck 28 - 0
RIDGEWOOD, NJ - Bob Groat was the big man for Ridgewood as the Maroons defeated Teaneck 28-0. It was Ridgewood’s second Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League triumph. Groat carried ten times for 59 yards and caught two passes for 112 yards, including a pair of touchdowns. His runs of 18 and 14 yards in the second quarter sparked a 60-yard Ridgewood march for the first touchdown. Ridgewood, thwarted by penalties in the opening stanza, started its first scoring drive near the close of the first quarter, gaining 60 yards in five plays with Paul Albus hitting the middle from the one for the TD. Groat’s kick made it 7- 0. The Maroons added another touchdown on a 72-yard pass play from Ken Weber to Groat, who caught the pass on the Teaneck 42 and easily scored. Groat’s kick gave Ridgewood a 14- 0 halftime lead. Ridgewood tallied twice in the third quarter. Albus plunged over from the one after Steve Molyneaux blocked a Teaneck punt on the 20 and ran it to the one yard line before being tackled and on a 40-yard Weber to Groat pass play on which Groat eluded several tacklers in a 20-yard run to the goal line. The final score came in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter when Ridgewood drove to the Teaneck one where Groat fumbled. But on the first play, Teaneck’s Bob Marino was tackled in the end zone by Arne Olsen for a safety.
October 14, 1972 - Maroons Stun Paramus 22 - 7
RIDGEWOOD, NJ - Ridgewood coach Roger Sweeney can thank his defense for putting the Maroons in first place in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League. But he may have a few harsh words for the over aggressive defenders. The Maroons capitalized on a fumble, a stolen ball, and an interception to top previously undefeated Paramus 22 -7. But the defense also created a number of Spartan threats because of penalties. Ridgewood was whistled for 12 penalties for 133 yards, including four roughing the passer calls, a pass interference, and a grabbing the face mask. Despite giving Paramus yardage and first downs, Ridgewood stopped all but one Spartan threat. Quarterback Mark McCormack engineered a penalty-free 63-yard march in the second quarter and sneaked in from the one to give the Spartans a 7- 0 advantage. But then the bounces started going Ridgewood’s way. With less than two minutes in the half, Woody Morgan stole the ball from Paramus halfback Frank Pedevillano at the Spartan 24. On second down from that spot, Ken Weber threw a TD pass to Gary Jones on a crazy play that involved four players. The pass was intended for Paul Thomas, but Paramus defensive back Tom Devinko deflected it. It bounced off Thomas and Mike Esposito of Paramus tried for an interception. But he succeeded only in tipping it into the air again and Jones finally caught it on the goal line and stepped into the end zone. To add insult to injury, the Maroons then got two points by messing up Bob Groat’s extra point kick. Holder Jeff Lockhart fumbled the snap, but jumped up quickly and ran for the conversion and an 8-7 Ridgewood lead. Late in the third quarter Andy Rodman tackled McCormack as he attempted to pass. Linebacker Arne Olsen picked up the ball and raced 30 yards for the touchdown. Mike Kayes, who averaged 41 yards on seven punts, rolled around right end for the final touchdown with less than a minute to play. The Maroon defense kept McCormack scrambling all day, dropping him for losses four times in addition to the four hits after he had thrown. Molyneaux and Rodman, the defensive ends, contained him from running his rollouts.
October 21, 1972 - Ridgewood Rolls Past Bergenfield 15 - 7
BERGENFIELD, NJ - Ridgewood erased another barrier in its bid for its first Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League football title when it downed Bergenfield 15-7. The winning touchdown came midway through the second quarter on a 45-yard pass play from Ken Weber to Jim Van Yperen. Each team scored before the decisive pass and, in the second half, it was Bergenfield putting on a big drive in an effort to gain a tie. The drive finally failed when Paul Atella caught quarterback Steve Novak for a loss as he tried to pass on fourth down. Bergenfield appeared on the way to a second touchdown after Chris Knight had picked off a Weber pass and returned the ball to the Ridgewood 38. Having moved well on the ground earlier and picking up eight yards in two carries, the Bears suddenly went to the air and the third-down pass fell incomplete. It broke the momentum and on the next down the Maroon defense held the Bears to a one yard gain. The Ridgewood touchdown followed with big ground gaining plays behind the aggressive front line blocking of Jim Ranton, John Wescott, Kevin Cronyn, Paul Vinroot, and Paul Schneidenbach. Then on third-and-eight from the 31, Weber found Paul Albus coming out of the backfield and hit him nicely at the Bergenfield 47. Two plays later Weber hit Van Yperen for the go ahead touchdown. Ridgewood went for the 2-point conversion. Jeff Lockhart connected with Van Yperen that put Ridgewood in the lead 15 -7. The second half saw both teams drive the ball up and down the field with nothing to show. The final possession of the game belonged to Bergenfield. The Bears moved the ball from their 32 to the 33 of the Maroons. On fourth down, Atella broke through on a blitz bringing down Novak for a loss and securing the win for Ridgewood.
October 28, 1972 – Hackensack Interrupts Ridgewood’s Title March and Upset Maroons 14 - 13
RIDGEWOOD, NJ - A stymied run for a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter cost Ridgewood a 14-13 loss to Hackensack in a Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League game. But that’s an oversimplification of what actually happened as Ridgewood suffered its first defeat after four wins and fell into a tie with Passaic valley for the NNJIL lead. The rain, and especially the mud, proved to be an equalizer for the underdog Comets. But in the final analysis the difference…Hackensack was able to cash in two breaks in the first quarter and Ridgewood was not in the fourth. Because of the poor drainage of the Ridgewood field (locals call it “The Swamp”) the game probably wouldn’t have been played if it had rained an hour sooner at 11:45 AM. Even before the opening whistle, a river of water was already flowing down the sodless, crownless middle of Ridgewood’s field. By the end of the first period the numbers on both sets of uniforms were obliterated and the players were caked with mud. The slickness generated by these conditions led to Hackensack’s two scores in the first quarter; and to Ridgewood opportunities in the second half. The best one started in the third quarter when punter Daryl Harley fumbled a center snap. The Maroons, trailing 14-13, recovered on the Comets 38. Jeff Lockhart, who had come on in the second quarter to spark Ridgewood’s incredible passing game, completed a 23-yard third-down pass to Mike Kayes to the Hackensack seven. On the next play, the officials had center Kevin Cronyn, who was only two feet beyond the line of scrimmage, as an illegal receiver downfield. Next, Lockhart was sacked for a 10-yard loss. Hackensack’s unsuccessful fourth down gambles provided the other opportunities, but John Calabrese broke up one TD pass and intercepted another in the final seconds of the game. The slickness of the ball and field led to the Comets two scores in the first quarter. The Maroons outplayed them in virtually every department the rest of the way. On the second play of the game, Paul Albus got three yards up the middle and was hit by Pete Nora. Albus fumbled the ball and Hackensack recovered on the Ridgewood 15 yard line. Banging its big fullback Lee Larkin and halfback Lafayette Donnell up the middle behind wedge blocking, Hackensack took 6 plays to go the 15 yards. Donnell took it in from a yard out. Bob Coleman booted the first of two decisive points. Hackensack used that type of running as its offense the rest of the game, only it added a little wrinkle on its next score. A high punt by Mike Kayes curved out of bounds to give the Comets the ball on the Ridgewood 42. Larkin slipped a pair of tacklers at the line for a 31-yard gain. With first-and-goal at the 14 following a penalty, the Comets went to the air. Daryl Harley grabbed a 10-yarder. The Ridgewood defense threw the Comets back, but Jerry Logan threw 6 yards to Harley for the score. Those were the only two passes the Comets threw the entire game. The deficit only served to fire up the Maroons. They drove through the air from their 26 to the Hackensack 15 before penalties killed the drive. Hackensack drove to the 50 before Paul Mayer recovered Logan’s fumble at the Hackensack 45. Lockhart threw 26 yards to Jim Van Yperen who broke two tackles to get to the four. Three plays later Lockhart snuck in from about a foot over right guard for the touchdown. Bob Groat kicked the extra point. Hackensack elected to kick to start the third quarter. It looked like a smart move when Donnell covered a loose ball at the Ridgewood 24. But Larkin fumbled it back on the next play and Paul Atella recovered on the Ridgewood 25. Ridgewood drove 75-yards for its second score in the third quarter. Lockhart completed five of nine passes to move the ball to the Hackensack one and Albus dove over the right side for the score. Reserve quarterback Mike Kayes tried to roll around left end for the two-pointer, but never got close as Ray Jones, Harley, and Coleman piled him up. The Maroons had one last ditch attempt from their own 42 in the final minute, but Calabrese intercepted a desperation pass intended for Gary Jones and Hackensack ran out the clock.
November 4, 1972 – Ridgewood Takes Lead with 14 - 6 Win Over Passaic Valley.
LITTLE FALLS, NJ - Ridgewood High dropped out of the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League following the 1937-38 school year, but returned to that circuit in 1959. The Maroons, who had little football success in the latter years of its first go-round in the league, have not won a football title since they rejoined the NNJIL. Roger Sweeney’s ball club took steps to remedy that situation. The Maroons took over undisputed possession of the league lead with a 14-6 triumph over Passaic Valley, which had gone into the game with a half-game edge in the standings. The Ridgewood victory was its fifth against one defeat. Passaic Valley came out of the game with a 5-2 league mark with one game against Wayne Valley remaining. Ridgewood must face only Garfield (0-7) and Fair Lawn (2-5) and the schedule seemingly favors it in the flag drive. Passaic Valley and Ridgewood might be said to have played two ball games. In the first half, showing the results of outstanding scouting, the clubs put on a great defensive exhibition. Almost all of the total offense in the game came in the second half. The only scoring bid by either club in the first 24 minutes of action came on a 45-yard Passaic Valley drive, but Ridgewood stopped the Hornets on the 26. With a fourth-and-eight, Dave Strasser attempted a 43 yard field goal but it was wide to the left. The 43-yard attempt was no idle gesture, for Strasser had been successful on six of eight field goal attempts, including one from 48 yards out and another from 43. He shares the state record with six in one season, and was out to claim the mark yesterday. He never got another chance. Ridgewood’s defense, which sparkled all day, was directly responsible for the break that put the Maroons on the board at 6:52 of the third quarter. Pete Miles broke through to block a punt by Steve Retzer and recovered the ball himself on the Hornet’s 15. It took Ridgewood only four plays to score, with Mike Kayes going around right end on a keeper for the touchdown from three yards out. Bob Groat’s conversion made it 7-0. Passaic Valley, as did Ridgewood, made adjustments during the halftime intermission. The Hornets came roaring back and in 2 minutes and 22 seconds were on the board. The Hornets, not known as a passing team, completed three consecutive passes to go from their own 24 to the Ridgewood 2-yard line. On second down, Mark Haefeli ran through center for the touchdown. Coach Steve Gerdy, with his kicking ace Strasser sidelined from an ankle injury suffered in the third quarter, went for the two-point conversion. Mark Todisco’s plunge at center was stopped and Ridgewood lead 7-6. Ridgewood got the ball in good field position, just inside midfield, early in the fourth quarter. The Maroons scored in seven plays despite a 15-yard penalty. The touchdown came on an old- fashioned flea-flicker play. Jeff Lockhart tossed a short pass to Kayes, and when the Passaic valley defense charged him, Kayes flipped the ball to Jim Van Yperen. Van Yperen made it no contest as he raced behind the downfield blocking of guards John Wescott and Paul Vinroot to the corner of the end zone. Groat put the game out of reach with his second conversion. Ridgewood was on an offensive drive again when time ran out to end the game.
November 11, 1972 - Ridgewood Moves Closer to Title Beat Garfield 22 - 7
GARFIELD, NJ - Ridgewood moved another step closer to its first Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League crown since joining the league in 1959 by defeating Garfield 22-7. Only traditional Thanksgiving rival Fair Lawn stands between Roger Sweeney’s club and the elusive title. For awhile it appeared the once-beaten Maroons might be looking ahead to the date instead of concentrating on the winless Boilermakers. Ridgewood had all it could handle from inspired Garfield. The Maroons didn’t pull away until the final minute of the third quarter when Arne Olsen stepped in front of an errant Dan Brodhead pass and rambled 31 yards to assure the win. Ridgewood unveiled its halfback duo of Paul Albus and Paul Adamo on the first series of plays to sweep 60 yards in 9 plays. The emotionally charged Garfield defense helped matters by jumping off-sides on the first two plays. Albus and Adamo then powered their way to the one yard line behind the blocks of guards John Wescott and Paul Vinroot before Albus crashed over from the one. A Garfield fumble provided the impetus for Ridgewood’s second TD. After the bobble, Garfield held for three downs. But a perfectly executed circle pass from Jeff Lockhart to Bob Groat produced a 15-yard score. Ridgewood tried to maneuver again later in the half. But this time linebacker Mark Picchierri stepped in front of Groat to pick off the pass and raced 67 yards to narrow the score to 14-7. The Ridgewood defense kept Garfield outside the Maroon 40 the entire game. The running efforts of Ed Rusnak were the only success the Boilermakers had controlling the ball. “Now we don’t have to worry about looking ahead,” said Sweeney…”the game with Fair Lawn is the big one for us.”
November 25, 1972 - 9 - 7 Win at Fair Lawn Gives Ridgewood First NNJIL Title
FAIR LAWN, NJ - “This is a selfless team; everyone is pulling for everyone else and everyone is giving 100 percent. The coaches and players hit it off right from the start.” This was how senior quarterback Jeff Lockhart described Ridgewood High’s football team when accepting the Jack Stroker Award last Sunday from the Ridgewood Junior Football Association. Jeff didn’t start Thanksgiving Day but came on in the fourth quarter and engineered a 46-yard time-consuming drive that helped clinch Ridgewood’s 9-7 victory over Fair Lawn in the 30th annual feud. The victory gave Ridgewood the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League title with a 7-1 record, the best in Coach Roger Sweeney’s 14 years at the helm. An independent game with Englewood was cancelled this season and the Maroons suffered a one-point loss to Hackensack on their flooded field one rainy Saturday.
FIRST TITLE - It was the first NNJIL crown for the Maroons since they returned to the NNJIL in 1959. Although they won a state title in 1960 with a 7-2 slate, Englewood took the NNJIL title. The Maroon team of 1970 duplicated the 7-2 mark two years after Sweeney’s best, 7-1-1, when a 3-0 loss to Bergenfield cost Ridgewood an undefeated season. His teams have now beaten Fair Lawn eight times, the last three in succession, while losing four and tying one in its last 13 games. The Maroons have taken an 18-9 lead in the series. Two games have ended in ties. “This is a good team in many ways,” said an overjoyed Coach Sweeney, just before it was his turn to be dunked in the shower by the jubilant players. “It’s been a good team in many ways. The boys didn’t need prodding. They knew what they had to do. The most important thing is that they played as a team all the way. They never let down. Even in losing to Hackensack they gave it their all and played extremely well. Just wasn’t our day with Mother Nature.” They played well again on Fair Lawn’s frozen field that brought out a variety of football gear among the players. The contest was pure entertainment for nearly 10,000 spectators who watched in the bright sun and crisp winterish air. It had everything from Fair Lawn’s multi offensive formations, including a “shotgun,” to three interceptions, as many blocked punts and six fumbles, all recovered by the team that coughed up the ball.
DEFENSE SHINES - Ridgewood kept Fair Lawn “alive” by not being able to score from in close on three occasions and put the game away. The defensive units set up all the scoring. The third quarter wasn’t yet three minutes old when Steve Molyneaux, who had sacked the quarterback for an 11-yard loss to force the punt, blocked the kick. Craig Hopewell recovered on the Fair Lawn 13. Paul Adamo made the entire yardage on one try around right end behind the lead blocking of guard John Wescott and halfback Paul Albus. Bob Groat booted the PAT. These are about the only yards that Albus didn’t get as he ran 17 times for 108 yards of Ridgewood’s 150-yard total. The Maroons blew two opportunities in the third period. Paul Mayer picked off a screen pass and returned it 19 yards to the Fair Lawn 14. But the Maroons failed on four attempts and the drive stalled on the 6 yard line of the Cutters. The Cutter offense provided the next break when it tried a razzle-dazzle end around reverse off punt formation in its own end zone. Lee Wienerman, the end for the Cutters, was finally brought down at the Fair Lawn 4-yard line after fooling no one. But the Maroons, who nullified their fine offensive efforts with 100 yards in penalties, took a five yarder here and never got the ball across the goal line as they were stopped at the one-yard line. But that led to the safety on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Cutters trying to go from their one-yard line were thwarted by Molyneaux and Pete Miles who tackled Tony Marshall in the end zone.
ANOTHER CHANCE - Harry Garbarini, Fair Lawn’s defensive standout, gave the Cutters an opportunity when he blocked the punt and the ball was recovered on the Ridgewood 25. But the Cutters, who were held to minus 35 yards rushing in the second half, couldn’t cash in. Miles sacked quarterback Barry Milazzo for a nine-yard loss, and the Maroons began the time-killing drive at their 18. But Gary Santana smothered Mike Kayes’ punt when the Maroons drive stalled at the Fair Lawn 37 and Milazzo, aided by a 15-yard face mask penalty, passed the Cutters 65 yards to a score. The key gainer was a 31-yard third-and-long strike to Bob Boylan. With the ball on the Ridgewood 24, Milazzo threw a 17 yard strike to Barry Dougan. Milazzo then found Boylan for a seven-yard scoring pass. Dave Cosgrove added the extra point with 26 seconds remaining in the game.
Above, its Captain Jack! (Photo courtesy of John Wescott)The Senior Members of the 1972 NNJIL Champions
Craig Hopewell (Hopey) #41
John Wescott (Wessy, sometimes Captain Jack)#61
Paul Albus #22
Paul Atella (Atella the Hun) #11
Dan Bradley (Brad) #66
Dave Burdick #56
Chris Cassidy (Sundance Kid) #88
Kevin Cronyn #58
Kevin Harper #38
Jeff Lacker #62
Jeff Lockhart (Spider Lockhart) #14
Pete Miles #82
Steve Molyneaux (Monk) #34
Tom Nepola (Nip) #48
Arne Olsen #59
Jim Ranton #77
Andy Rodman #43
John Rymer #74
Paul Thomas #25
Paul Vinroot (Root) #68
Gary Vukov (Vuke) #71
Jack Wolfstirn (Wolfey, sometimes Wolfman Jack) #64
Jim Lyons (Hop Sing)
Art Geiringer (Gerie)
The Coaches
Roger Sweeney (Roger the Dodger or Roger Ramjet)
Fern Gomez (Go Go Gomez)
Tom LeBlanc (Rookie)
Jim Reamer (Mr. 4-Squares)
Paul Schneidenbach (Get off the Schneid)
Joe Barkocy (Coach Barcalounger)
RHS will always remember Paul Albus - #22 - who passed away in 2009. The guy could play...........
(The above photo of Paul is a cropped version from the collection of Art Brierley)
written by John Wescott & Rick Flannery
