Underdog Metuchen pulls another playoff upset
Bulldogs defeat Bound Brook, advance to title game
BY SHAWN LAYTON Staff Writer
In a high-scoring affair at Lamonte Field in Bound Brook, the borough high school football team handed the Crusaders its only loss of the season to advance to the NJSIAA Central Group I title game with a 40-27 victory.

Down 21-20 at the half, the No. 7 Bulldogs held Bound Brook scoreless until the final play of the game to knock off the No. 3 Crusaders. Metuchen beat No. 2 Shore Regional 12-10 in a first-round playoff game.

"Our offensive line created seams and we were able to run the ball well as a result," Metuchen head coach Bob Ulmer said. "Our running game set up our passing game and this was a key factor for us. Another key factor was that we didn't turn the ball over and ended up with a couple of takeaways."

Bound Brook quarterback Mike Romanella held a hot hand during the first half, putting the Crusaders on top early with a pair of touchdown strikes. Romanella connected with Jordan Hawkins to put Bound Brook ahead 7-0 in the first quarter. After the Bulldogs responded with a Ray Doherty score from a yard out to make it a 7-6 game, Romanella put the Crusaders back on top with a 10-yard scoring strike to David Rivera.

While the first half was a tight, seesaw affair, the second half was all Metuchen, led by running back Ray Doherty and quarterback Steven Deinzer. On the team's first drive of the second half, Doherty helped set up the go-ahead score with a 74-yard run. Deinzer found James Warren two plays later from 10 yards out to make it a 27-21 game.

A 44-yard pass from Deinzer to Phil Lewis gave the Bulldogs a 34-21 lead. Metuchen then built its biggest lead after a 1-yard run from Deinzer, which made it 41-21.

"Our three answered touchdowns really finished the game," Ulmer said. "Our defense did a great job in the second half. They played really well."

Doherty finished the game with 244 yards on 29 carries and eclipsed the 1,000- yard marker for the season. Doherty also came up with a pair of two-point conversions to help the Bulldogs maintain their edge.

"We got great offensive performances from Doherty and Phil Lewis," Ulmer said. "Doherty ran exceptionally well and Lewis made some really big catches. Ray finished with 135 yards and he also played an excellent game defensively."

For Ulmer, the win was especially rewarding considering Bound Brook is his alma mater and Lamonte Field was the place where the one-time linebacker cut his teeth.

"I thought people would boo me out of town after the game, but that wasn't the case," Ulmer said. "Everyone was extremely complimentary and cordial. They had a lot of nice things to say about our football team."

Metuchen will play for its first sectional title since 1985 when it takes on No. 1 Asbury Park on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Rutgers University. Asbury Park, the defending Group I champions, reached the finals after a 50-6 semifinal victory over Middlesex.

"Asbury Park is strong everywhere," Ulmer said. "They're fast, strong, and they make big plays. If we play as well as we have these last couple of weeks, I think we'll be fine. Asbury has the No. 1 receiver in the state in Derrell Bell and we'll have our hands full trying to guard him. We can make a game of it if we play smart football."