Seniors were honored for the careers during halftime ceremonies (credit David Chmiel)
The Columbia Cougars’ Homecoming game got off to a great start: A huge hit on the opening kick led to a CHS fumble recovery, then senior quarterback Jimmy Martinez broke free for a 30-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage.
The next 47:45 was a tense, hard-hitting test between the Cougars and the Nutley Raiders. Ultimately, the Cougars’ best game of the season was doomed by a pair of big plays that led to a 28-26 Nutley victory. There was a heightened sense of urgency for the Cougars (0-7) to a Senior Night victory.
A pair of Nutley scores —Fullback Frank Malanga turned a fourth-and-one dive play up the middle into a 46-run touchdown run, and a 63-yard trick receiver-option play to wide receiver Kevin Goudie 63 pass from wide receiver Pete Russo.
“They got us on those two plays,”said Power, “but our guys came out and controlled the second half.”
The Cougars took the second-half kick and applied pressure to the Raiders’ defense. Martinez (13-25, 159 yards) moved the offense quickly, mixing runs by tailback Kiambu Jones (26 carries, 95 yards, two touchdowns) and passes to Lincoln Black (3, 49 yards) and CJ Ibezim (7, 64 yards), drove to the Raiders 15-yard-line. Just outside the field-goal range for Steiner, Martinez took a fourth-and-11 snap and threw a strike to Donte Rolley in the right side of the end zone. Steiner’s extra-point brought the Cougars to within 28-26.
CJ Ibezim keeps his balance to get more yards after a catch (credit David Chmiel)
Nutley failed to make any sustained progress throughout the second half. The Cougars kept moving up and down the field. Early in the fourth quarter, Steiner had a 24-yard field goal blocked. But the Cougars continued to fight, moving down to the Raiders’five-yard line for an apparent first down. The side judge, after marking the ball at the five, moved the ball back half a yard, then measured. The apparent first turned into fourth down, which Martinez picked up with a quarterback sneak. Runs by Jones got the ball to the 1; on fourth-and-one, Martinez ran off the left guard and appeared to score, but no signal ever came from the officials. The Columbia players and coaches were apoplectic, Nutley took over from the one.
“We didn’t dwell on it at the time,”Power said. “We still had work to do. But it’s like the old saying about boxing, ‘Knock the guy out, don’t let the judges control your fate.’ We are learning how to do it, but now we just have to get it done.”
Nutley couldn’t sustain the drive; a shanked punt gave the Cougars a chance at the Raiders’ 36-yard line. Martinez and his receivers couldn’t connect and Russo intercepted a pass with roughly a minute left in the game.
“I don’t want anyone thinking we can treat this like a win, though,” Power said. “We are making progress, but we’re going to have to play this tough —and be more focused —if we expect to win next week,” Power said.
A Nutley defender gets a hand on a Marc Steiner extra-point.
“We wanted that win for our seniors,” Power said. “They have done an outstanding job and have been great leaders for our younger players as we build this program. We talked after the game and will keep doing the right things until we get that first win. The true example of their leadership came this morning, when every single player showed up here at 8 a.m. this morning, to lift, stretch, run, and get treatment. We will look at the tape, but we’re over it and getting ready for Livingston.”
STICKING POINTS: Defensively, two big plays by the Nutley special teams took four points four points from the Cougars. In the first quarter, Nutley linemen burst through the Cougar kick team to block Marc Steiner’s extra point after sophomore tailback Kiambu Jones scored on a 3-yard touchdown run. On the first play of the fourth quarter, a Nutley defender broke free to get a hand on Steiner’s attempt at a 22-yard field goal that would have given the Cougars a one-point lead.
CLOCK MISMANAGEMENT: Nutley coach Thomas Basile made a couple of questionable late-game decisions that could have given the Cougars a chance to win the game:
- With just more than two minutes left in the game, the Raiders faced a third-and-nine from their 26-yard line. Rather than call a conservative running play, which would have kept the clock running and given the Cougars less time with the ball, Basile called a pass play. Quarterback Rob Melillo (3-6, 73 yards) threw a pass that Cougars’ cornerback Donte Rolley nearly intercepted. The incomplete pass stopped the clock, giving the Cougars more than an additional 30 seconds to use on their final drive.
- After the final interception, Basile called two running plays as the final seconds were winding down. Conventional wisdom would have had the quarterback take the snap from center and kneel down to avoid a potential fumbled handoff or fumble after a tackle.
Defensive Stars: Linebacker Evander Jackson, playing his final home game for the Cougars, led the defense with 10 tackles and a fumble recovery; fellow senior Martinez had six tackles and a fumble recovery. Senior defensive tackle Thomas Walker also had a crucial tackle of Nutley running back Greg Merkle to force the Raiders into a late-game punt.
GREAT START: Unaccompanied Minors, the Columbia High School talented a cappella group, provided a beautiful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to start the evening’s homecoming-game festivities. Unaccompanied Minors is comprised of Vivienne Longstreet, Sara Housely, Alex Scheutz, Daniel Zona, Russell Pinzino, Ben Doubek, Ben Blaise, Omowumi Mebude, Hunter Kovacs, Josh Ewing, Eva Neimeier, Jacob Toll, Delainey Fuschetto, and Will Pettigrew.
Unaccompanied Minors, the CHS a cappella group, performed a beautiful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Anthem” to start the game. (credit David Chmiel)
SAY WHAT?: They are teenagers —teenagers and fans —so judgment isn’t always their strong suit. But it’s time for the Columbia students to stop their favorite cheer. “F*** you, Nutley”is a high-decibel embarrassment to the high school and the community. These intelligent, engaged students surely can find something more creative, and less profane, to antagonize the opponent.
HAIRY SITUATION: Bernie Verlingo, owner of Village Barbers, must have had mixed emotions during the tight game. Verlingo’s son Vinnie is a sophomore wide receiver and defensive back for Nutley. On the bright side, a Cougars victory could have led to some “interesting” Saturday-morning haircuts from a distracted and/or angry Bernie!
NEXT GAME: Trick or Treating (Halloween game), 7 p.m., Friday, at Livingston.
