WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Mountaineer’s would host the Bloomfield Bengals at Suriano Field, at 7:00pm on Friday, October 25, 2019. The Mountaineers looked to put a halt to their 2 game losing streak, and prevail over the Bengals who were winless in all 7 weeks of the season, prior to their match-up against West Orange. In order to earn their first victory, senior RB Tamil Fernandes #1, and sophomore QB DJ Noble #15, would need to put on an offensive clinic. However, the biggest challenge for the Bengal’s would come on the defensive side of the ball, as they gave up a combined 218 points in their 7 games, and struggled forcing the opposing offense off the field on 3rd down. 

West Orange would be adding back a huge piece of their special teams unit in return man, Aidan Healey #27, who had suffered a concussion that sidelined him in last weeks game against PCTI. With the West Orange faithful tagging along, the Mountaineers would debut their new throwback threads, in superstitious hopes of flipping their losing streak around, by scratching across a win against their heated rivals, the Bloomfield Bengals.

The Mountaineers would waste no time, and would get an early lead after a 12 yard touchdown run from Shakhi Carson #3, the man responsible for over 30% of the teams entire scoring production thus far in the season. Just 5:02 into the game, Carson had put his team ahead. Senior K, Bryan Reitberger #16, put the PAT attempt through the neon uprights, improving the score to 7-0, with 7:58 left in the first quarter. West Orange would force a Bloomfield 3 and out, allowing for their 2nd possession of the day.

Bloomfield would force a 3rd down and 29, which seemed almost impossible. However, Mountaineer QB Mason Murdock #11 would hit his slot receiver Jason Gonzalez #9, over the middle for 21 yards, making the 4th down try more manageable. With just 8 yards to gain on 4th down, Coach Darnell Grant of West Orange, would put faith in his offense (much like he has all season), and send his unit on the field again. His decision would prove to be a rewarding one, as Murdock would hit Jayson Raines #8, over the middle for a 25 yard touchdown pass. Raines, who had just received his 1st Ivy League School offer from the University of Pennsylvania earlier in the day, had made it a 2 possession game. Reitberger would once again kick the extra point through, making the score 14-0.

Amiyn Hanks #4 of West Orange, was now playing both sides of the ball due to the absence of  CB Dorian Rawls #2, who suffered a severe ankle sprain during the early-goings of last weeks PCTI match-up. Hanks, had generated the games first turnover on a 3rd and 10 try, as Bengal QB, DJ Noble #15 would heave a deep pass, only to be nestled into the hands of Hanks who was slowly growing accustomed to the new position after being introduced to it just days ago.

On just a play later, West Orange RB Mekhi Green #1, had sprinted 76 yards for a score, proving to all in attendance that West Orange has not only 1 outstanding RB in Shakhi Carson, but 2. During the PAT attempt, a poor snap would be dished to holder, Matt Bove #33, but he would handle it with poise and composure, taking it into the endzone in exchange for 2 points. The score rose to 22-0, and West Orange was doing exactly what they had planned to: rerouting their season.

The Mountaineers had put up 22 first quarter points. The team hadn’t scored this many points in a quarter since September 19, 2014, when the Mountaineers scored 23 points in the 2nd quarter of  a 30-24 victory over the Blue Bears.

The Mountaineer offense would pick up right where they left off in the first quarter, as Carson ran for 33 yards into the endzone, on a pitch to the right side, putting the dagger in the Bengals. A comeback from a 29-0 deficit was improbable, especially due to how smoothly and easily the West Orange offense had been operating, scoring on all 4 of their drives thus far.

The Mountaineer defense, who hadn’t allowed a score all night, had continued to click. On the Bloomfield Bengal’s 5th possession of the game, the football would be punched out of #1, Tamil Fernandez’s arms, to be recovered by Jalen Rutherford #26 of West Orange. The Mountaineers would capitalize on this turnover, with a Bryan Reitberger 14 yard field goal, pushing the West Orange lead to 32-0.

Bloomfield would punt the ball away on their ensuing drive, but would gain a slim ray of hope, as Ahren Monteiro #5 stepped into a Murdock pass, and intercepted the ball and returning it to the Bengal 49 yard line, for their first turnover of the game. Mountaineer CB, Jahmil St. Pierre #7 would return the favor and go up and grab an interception of his own, giving his squad the ball back at the Mountaineer 6 yard line.

What was believed to be a huge 94 yard touchdown run by Mekhi Green #1, was revoked by a holding call on a West Orange lineman. This penalty would kill the West Orange drive, as they would then go on to punt the ball for the first time all night. The time would run out on the half however, and the Mountaineers would go into the half with a 32-0 lead, with the odds of winning highly in their favor.

The second half would consist of little action, as West Orange had taken every single one of their first string players out. The Mountaineer offense was only able to score 1 time through the entirety of the 2nd half, as Jehki “Choo-Choo” Williams #41, ran for a 30 yard touchdown. However, the Mountaineer back-up defensive unit was able to stun the Bengals, permitting 0 points, as the time ran out all the way. The Mountaineers would prevail over the Bengals, 39-0, in a crucial game, as they improve to 5-3 on the year.

After the victory, QB Mason Murdock, had this to say about his team’s performance, “We had a great week of practice and realized the playoffs were knocking on the door.” He also stated that he and his team “needed to kick it up a couple of gears if {they} want to reach their goals.”

Murdock would finish 4 for 6, with 90 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Carson finished with 9 touches for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Mekhi Green carried the ball 1 time for 76 yards and a touchdown. St. Pierre tallied up 1 interception, Adonis May #31 gathered 14 tackles, and Chris Parsons had 11 tackles, 2 for a loss.