HOPATCONG — After throwing his third interception of the game with less than four minutes left in the championship game and his team trailing by nine points, Hopatcong quarterback Jerry Venturino went to the sideline and took a knee.
"I thought, ’It’s over’," Venturino said.
It’s fair to say all the Chiefs experienced this same feeling of resignation towards the end of Saturday’s North Jersey Section 1, Group II final against Mahwah.
So imagine how they felt after winning.
In beating Mahwah for its first state championship, 36-35, Hopatcong got spectacular performances from Venturino and his receivers, a huge effort from its defense in the second half, and lastly, a 35-yard field goal in the final seconds from Dan McNamara.
Chiefs senior Steve Holick said, "A miracle had to happen and a miracle happened."
Before it happened, though, Hopatcong spent most of its day struggling to climb out of a hole. The Chiefs trailed 28-7 in the second quarter and 28-13 at the half.
Mahwah’s four first-half touchdowns were mostly the product of four big plays. Thunderbirds quarterback Rob Balkema contributed to two of these — a pair of long, perfectly-thrown touchdown passes.
Hopatcong helped dig its own hole as well. The Chiefs set up another Mahwah touchdown by failing to convert a punt fake near midfield. A Venturino interception was returned 70 yards for Mahwah’s fourth score.
"They were all fluke touchdowns," Hopatcong linebacker Pasquale Ciccone said. "We knew our defense was better than that. In the second half, we showed them."
After the break, the Chiefs started climbing back. First, they marched 76 yards to a score as Venturino (24-of-44, 392 yards, three TDs, three INTs) connected with wideouts Todd Blohm and Holick before finding Steve Howell from four yards out for a touchdown.
Late in the third quarter, Howell (9 catches, 184 yards) keyed a three-play, 59-yard drive with a pair of dazzling catches. Matt Hill’s three-yard touchdown run cut Mahwah’s lead to 28-26.
At this point, the Chiefs looked to be on their way. But midway through the final quarter, their comeback appeared to be stopped cold.
After Venturino threw his second interception, the Thunderbirds marched 46 yards to the end zone to make it 35-26.
Three plays later, Venturino threw another pick. With just 3:51 left, it looked like a done deal.
And this, folks, is where Hopatcong got its miracle.
With 2:50 left, Mahwah’s punter took a bad snap and ate the ball at his own 8-yard-line. Venturino passed on the next play and the ball was deflected, end-over-end, right into the hands of Blohm for a score, making it 35-33.
Mahwah recovered the ensuing onsides kick near midfield, but its offense went three-and-out. Chiefs defensive back Mike Andrikanich forced a punt with a huge breakup on third down.
With 59 seconds left, Hopatcong had the ball at its own 13-yard-line.
"I’d thrown three interceptions … one for a touchdown," Venturino said. "I felt so bad … like I’d let down my team and my school.
"I had to show everyone I could come back from that. That I had the confidence to do it."
Venturino had it, alright.
He hit Holick for 30 yards, Howell for 27 and, after an incompletion, Blohm for 11 more.
With 11.6 seconds left, the ball was at Mahwah’s 19-yard-line.
Hopatcong center Mike Jacobellis snapped it, Venturino put it down, and McNamara — who’d greased his team’s skids with a missed extra point and field goal earlier — drilled it straight through the uprights with 7.4 seconds showing on the clock.
Moments later, Hopatcong fans poured out of the stands and mobbed their heroes who, minutes earlier, thought all was lost.
"I didn’t feel anything … I was absolutely numb," Hopatcong head coach Paul Reduzzi said.
"I just stood there and cried."
Hopatcong 36,
Mahwah 35
Mahwah 14 14 0 7 – 35
Hopatcong 7 6 13 10 – 36
M– T.J. Mologhney 67 pass from Rob Balkema (Balkema kick).
M– Dwight DeFreese 3 run (Balkema kick).
H– Kyle Hefferon 19 pass from Jerry Venturino (Dan McNamara kick).
M– DeFreese 33 pass from Balkema (Balkema kick).
M– Jaleel Jones 70 int. return (Balkema kick).
H– Venturino 1 run (kick failed).
H– Steve Howell 4 pass from Venturino (pass failed).
H– Matt Hill 3 run (McNamara kick).
M– Mologhney 13 pass from Balkema (Balkema kick).
H– Todd Blohm 8 pass from Venturino (McNamara kick).
H– McNamara 35 fg.
Records: Hopatcong 10-2, Mahwah 9-3.
Sunday, December 2, 2001
By BRIAN COSTELLO
Special to The Record
HOPATCONG -- A Mahwah masterpiece became a horror story in a matter of minutes Saturday.
The Thunderbirds watched a 21-point lead evaporate in a 36-35 loss to Hopatcong in the Group 2, North 1 championship game.
Dan McNamara's 36-yard field goal with seven seconds left gave the Chiefs the victory.
"It was a great game that came down to the end," Mahwah senior Rob Balkema said. "They made their kicks, we didn't."
It was unthinkable that this game might come down to the final seconds after Mahwah (9-3) jumped out to a 28-7 lead with four minutes left in the second quarter. But a tenacious Hopatcong defense and the aerial show of quarterback Jerry Venturino and receiver Steve Howell destroyed the Thunderbirds' championship dreams.
After getting a quick score just before halftime to cut the lead to 13, Venturino directed two third-quarter scoring drives to make it 28-26. Mahwah bought itself some breathing room when Balkema hooked up with T.J. Moloughney on a 12-yard touchdown pass to put the T-Birds up by nine with 4:25 left.
"When we scored the touchdown, I thought we had it," said Balkema, who missed a 32-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter. "Then …Ø I don't know."
The Chiefs (10-2) began their drive at their own 35 and drove to the Mahwah 34 before Moloughney picked off his second pass of the day. The T-Birds took over with 3:51 left at their own 14 but could not get a first down. Then a bad snap on the punt attempt gave Hopatcong the ball on the Thunderbirds' 8-yard line. Venturino found Todd Blohm for the touchdown and made it 35-33.
Mahwah recovered the ensuing onside kick at its own 49-yard line with 2:42 left. Again the T-Birds failed to make a first down and had to punt it away. This time the Chiefs took over at their own 12-yard line and rode Venturino's arm. The senior moved the Chiefs 69 yards in four plays, setting up McNamara's dramatic kick.
"They went 70 yards in [four] plays against our defense," Balkema said. "That kills you. You can't win if you give up 70 yards in [four] plays."
Venturino finished the game with 394 yards on 25-of-46 passing and his top target, Howell had 160 yards on eight catches. The Thunderbirds defense looked worn-out late in the game, due to the combination of the high-powered Hopatcong attack, being on the field for what seemed like the entire second half, and the unseasonably warm weather. Mahwah coach Jeff Remo did not have much to say after the game to reporters and struggled to come up with words to sooth his team's pain.
"I don't know yet," Remo said when asked what he could say to them. "Obviously, I'm proud of them."
The Thunderbirds managed just 111 yards in the second half and just 42 passing yards. Balkema finished the day 9-of-18 for 176 yards.
It was the first State title in school history for Hopatcong, and the improbable victory will not be soon forgotten in the Sussex County town.
"This is a talented group of kids," Hopatcong coach Paul Reduzzi said. "You combine talent and work ethic and you're going to win games."
Football: Mahwah edged, 36-35
12/02/01
BY BOB BEHRE
FOR THE STAR-LEDGER
SECTION 1, GROUP 2
Given a shot at redemption, Dan McNamara nailed a 35-yard field goal with 7.4 seconds remaining to complete a hard-to-fathom comeback and secure Hopatcong's first NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 championship.
"I was so shocked I couldn't breath," McNamara said.
McNamara's kick gave Hopatcong its first lead and capped an incredible final two-plus quarters in which Hopatcong erased a three-touchdown deficit to beat Mahwah, 36-35, and thrill a crowd of 4,700 in Hopatcong.
"We got a good snap from Mike Jacobellis and holder Jerry Venturino put it right down," an elated McNamara said. "It looked like a couple of their guys were making it through our interior line, but luckily I got under it enough and I knew it was good."
McNamara had missed wide left on a 27-yard attempt with 4:51 left in the third quarter with Hopatcong trailing, 28-19. The usually reliable kicker also was wide left on a point-after attempt in the first half.
McNamara's field goal concluded a wild finish that saw Hopatcong score 10 points in the final 2:43.
Mahwah seemed to have put the game away when quarterback Rob Balkema (8-for-17, 175 yards, three TDs) hit a diving T.J. Mologhney in the right corner of the end zone with 4:24 remaining. Balkema's point-after put Mahwah (9-3) ahead, 35-26.
"I even thought that might be it," Hopatcong linebacker Kyle Hefferson said.
Mologhney then intercepted a pass by Venturino, Hopatcong's quarterback, at the Mahwah 14 with 3:51 remaining. But Hopatcong (10-2), which limited Mahwah to 114 yards after the break, forced the Bergen County school to punt from its 5-yard line, and a bad snap enabled Hopatcong's Chris Wilson to tackle punter Ron Gifford at the 8.
Venturino zipped a pass toward Todd Blohm on first down that Mahwah's Dwight DeFreese got a hand on near the goal line. But Blohm was able to hang onto the ball as he stepped into the end zone for the touchdown. McNamara's point-after drew Hopatcong within 35-33, but just 2:50 remained and Hopatcong had just one timeout left.
Sure-handed Mahwah tight end Tom Labenski caught McNamara's onside kick at midfield and all Mahwah needed for its first sectional championship since 1980 was one first down. But that proved too difficult against the charged-up Hopatcong defense as Balkema's pass to Labenski on third-and-five fell incomplete. Balkema put Hopatcong in a huge hole, though, with a punt that trickled out of bounds at the Hopatcong 12.
With 52.4 seconds remaining and 88 yards of real estate to negotiate, Venturino and his talented receiving corps of Blohm, Steve Howell and Steve Holick went to work.
"I called three plays the whole second half," Hopatcong coach Paul Reduzzi said, "and I think they were all bad. I just turned it over to Jerry."
Venturino gave Hopatcong breathing room right away, hitting Holick for 31 yards to the 43 on first down. He then found Howell free near the right sideline for 27 yards to the Mahwah 30. Just 30 seconds remained.
On second down from the 30, Venturino hit Blohm for 11 yards to the 19, setting up McNamara's heroic boot.
Hopatcong trailed, 28-7, in the first half before Venturino started the comeback with a 1-yard TD run before halftime.
Venturino completed 14 of 20 second-half passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns. He finished 25-for-42 for 411 yards and three touchdowns. And, in typical Venturino fashion, he diverted the accolades toward his teammates.
"This team just never quits," Venturino said. "Our receivers are unbelievable. I've been playing catch in the back yard with Blohm and Howell since we were little kids. They did an incredible job getting open under a lot of pressure."
Howell finished with nine catches for 178 yards and a school-record 50 receptions for the season. Holick had six catches for 113 yards and Blohm caught five passes for 51 yards.
Mahwah (9-3)1414 0 7 -- 35Hopatcong (10-2) 7 61310 -- 36M--Mologhney 67 pass from Balkema (Balkema kick)M--DeFreese 3 run (Balkema kick)H--Hefferon 29 pass from Venturino (McNamara kick)M--DeFreese 33 pass from Balkema (Balkema kick)M--Jones 71 interception return (Balkema kick)H--Venturino 1 run (kick failed)H--Howell 4 pass from Venturino (pass failed)H--Hill 3 run (McNamara kick)M--Mologhney 12 pass from Balkema (Balkema kick)H--Blohm 8 pass from Venturino (McNamara kick)H--FG McNamara 35
HOPATCONG — It was a frenzied yet amazing effort.
Hopatcong’s drive that put Dan McNamara in position to kick what would become the game-winning 35-yard field goal in the Chiefs’ 36-35 victory over Mahwah during Saturday’ North Jersey Section 1, Group II was as impressive as is was dramatic.
Senior quarterback Jerry Venturino moved his team from its own 12-yard line to the Mahwah 25 in about 52 seconds with no timeouts. It was almost Elway-esque considering the pressure and the emotions involved in getting Hopatcong its first state football title in its 32-year history.
"Coach (Reduzzi) told me that I’ve done it before," Venturino said. "Last year, for the league title we had four seconds left to score a touchdown to win and we did it. This year, it took the best finish. We had 59 seconds and coach just said just do it.
"Hawk made a great catch. We got down the field and made a couple more great catches. I knew Dan was going to make it in. It was a great feeling."
"I’ve been playing catch with (Todd Blohm and Steve Howell) in the backyard since we were little. They did a great job under pressure getting open. They made great catches and great runs after the catch."
The 68-yard drive included a 30-yard pass to Steve Holick, a 27-yard pass to Steve Howell. Both times the clock was stopped momentarily to set up the first-down markers.
Then Venturino tried to hit Howell again, but the ball was nearly intercepted by T. J. Maloughley who grabbed one earlier in the game. An 11-yard pass to Blohm got the ball to the middle of the field. Venturino then spiked the ball on the next snap to stop the clock with 7.4 seconds remaining.
"Paul called the offense and did what he did," Coach Paul Reduzzi said. "The line was phenomenal to give him the time. He can stand there and read the field and our four athletes are running around. Someone was going to break open."
Mahwah called a time out to try and ice McNamara. It also gave Reduzzi a chance to consider running one more play before trying a kick.
"When he called the timeout it gave me a second to think about it and I wanted Dan’s opinion," Reduzzi said. "Dan said, ‘No I have it.’ I didn’t think about it until walking onto the field and Dan said he was fine."
McNamara had kicked game-winning field goals before. The most memorable was in his freshman year when he kicked a 40-yarder to defeat Vernon.
Long time coming
It seems as if Hopatcong was on an 11-year plan when it came to earning a state title. On the opening day of the 1991 season, Hopatcong defeated Kittatinny to break a 40-game losing streak, among the longest streaks in the state. The Chiefs have had a reputation for football futility, registering losing seasons in 26 of its first 27 seasons of play since the school opened in 1969. It has been a full 10 seasons before the Chiefs were able to turn everything completely around to capture their first state title.
Better men
Midway through the regular season, several key Hopatcong players were suspended for a game for violating team rules regarding teenage drinking. The result was a 16-0 loss to High Point on Oct. 12 which probably knocked the Chiefs from a chance at a Sussex County Interscholastic League title. However, the punishment was a blessing in disguise.
"We realized how fragile the season was," McNamara said. "We didn’t want to waste the opportunity."
"It made them better men," Reduzzi added. "They spoke to the younger kids about their mistake in the elementary school. They went to the midget program, they spoke to their teammates about it.
"They made a mistake they are young kids and they learned from it and as educators that’s what we are supposed to do."
A week of fun
The week leading up to the state championship game is one of the things that the Chiefs players will probably remember the most.
"The school was crazy this week," Reduzzi said. "The administration gave the kids a lot of leeway to have fun and still do the right things."
Reduzzi mentioned a door decorating contest with homerooms trying to outdo each other with strobe lights and other special effects.
"One of the teachers bought 100 hamburgers from McDonalds and gave them out as a fake cookout party in school," he said. "It was just a lot of fun. It was a great experience for the kids."