After Coach Sean O’Hearens Pre Clinic Dodgers dejectedly wandered off the field in Wharton following their first game loss to the Knights, fans had the feeling they could be in for a long season. The second weeks loss assured them things certainly were headed in that direction. However, Coaches Tony Contessa, Greg Colao, Matt Ferris, Steve Finelli and Steve McKenna knew with a few tweeks here and there and Madisons “never give up” attitude, they could mold these fine young players into a team of champions.
So was the confident and energetic atmosphere on Tuesday night 10/29 as they charged their home field under the glorious lights at the MRC for their last game to greet a formidable Somerset Hills team. Madison was riding a two game winning streak with back to back road wins against Hanover and Hopatcong, so losing at our house was not an option. Madison got the ball first after the coin toss, and toss was the word in the huddle for the very first play. A quick option pass from Mehki Crump set the stage as Madison caught Somerset on their heels for a gain of ten. Nick McKenna picked up his fumbled handoff and turned it into an impressive gain, similar to runs by Robert Ferris and Anthony Contessa. The front O line held their blocks led by power center Will Baisch, Justin Slabaugh, Michael Keller, Ronan McGinn and Patrick Roelke, and QBs Ben Colao and Jared Barnes shared the duties of getting them downfield. Barnes took them to the goal line on their first possession, and Ben Colao snuck it in for the first score of the game. Ferris’ PAT made it 7-0 Madison. After short series by both teams, Madison retained the ball and had tremendous gains by Andrew Boyd, Gabe Artiglere and Chris Anderson, and Contessa stampeded 40 yards for the second score. Artigleres’ point after got it to 14-0 late in the quarter. Somersets next trip was cut short by a fumble recovered by Justin Slabaugh, but Madison stalled at the five after a penalty, turning it over. Somerset then countered with a score on a long sweep but couldn’t get the PAT, ending the first half 14-6 Madison.
The second half started with a quick four and out series by Somerset, and Madison took over, quickly showing how much they had improved since their first game. Contessa cut through the D line like a pro for 25yards and next it was Ferris to do his version of a TD shuffle. McKenna’s point after made it 21-6 early in the third. Not to be outdone, Somerset marched around the fortress set up on Defense by Vincent Finelli, Joey DeMarzo, Elliot Dressler, Markus Vali andJackson Koehler backed up by the secondary of Nate McKenna, John Hanna, Collin Faraher, Lenny Jandali, Tommy Packie and Scotty Spelker. Somerset scored their second TD, again failing on the extra point, and it was 21-12 in the third. Madison was now looking at a fourth-and-ten situation on their next series, and Artiglere took it wide for 80 yards to set up Jared Barnes’ strike for the TD; pat failed for a 27-12 lead. Again Somerset bounced right back as fans anxiously held their hot chocolates, and scored on a long run up the middle, tightening the tension to 27-18 early in the fourth quarter. By now the entire Dodger team had had enough and decided to pull out the stops and really rise to the occasion. After super runs by McKenna, Anderson and Contessa, Colao threw a spiral surprise to Contessa for the score, ending just as he started, and Andersons point after sealed the deal for a tremendous team effort win 34-18 by Madison. Our thanks go out to all the great support from the families and fans, the great sportsmanship and teamwork by our players, and for the patience and dedication by our coaches. Congratulations on a fantastic season. See you all next year! Go Dodgers!
