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SPORTS

Bishop Ahr survives to edge Woodbridge

Steven Macri
Correspondent

EDISON – It was a photo finish for Bishop Ahr and Woodbridge, as the game came down to the final eight seconds of the game.

Woodbridge was down 19-18 with under two minutes to play when the Barrons drove down to Bishop Ahr’s nine-yard line. The Barrons opted to attempt a long field goal, instead of taking a shot at the end zone. The strategy failed as kicker Harry Rutkowski missed it wide left. The missed field goal allowed Bishop Ahr to pick up its first win of the season.

Perhaps the biggest story of the night was Bishop Ahr coach Joe Vigilante picking up his first win after replacing Don Sofilkanich back in May.

Vigilante said about his first win, “I worked here, I went to here, and I coached here for nine years; honestly it’s just a tremendous feeling to get the victory against a great football team.”

The Trojans were unsure if starting quarterback David Holder would start after injuring his neck during last week’s loss to Colonia. Backup Thomas Galante received first team repetitions during the week and the decision was made late in the week.

Holder decided to suit up and he stole the show. Holder connected with last week’s star Timothy Howard for a 47-yard touchdown for the game winning touchdown.

“We didn’t know if I was going to play,” Holder said. “They gave Tommy (Galante) some snaps during the week. It was hard. Not going to lie, I was nervous. I just kept grinding and came out here and helped my team get the win.”

The first half hinted at a shoot out on the offensive side of the ball. Running Back Nathan Lanier exploded out of the gate. He scored on the opening play on a direct snap that he took to the outside for a 58-yard score.

Holder struck right back with a screen pass to Andrew Brazicki. The running back went on to take it 54-yards for a touchdown. Bishop Ahr led early 7-6.

Lanier shrugged off the opposing score and went on to have the games next two touchdowns. He scored on a 60-yard touchdown pass from Tracy Fudge and an 83 three yard run.

The Trojans went into the half down 18-7 and were looking for answers on defense. With the help of the coaching staff, the defense found a solution. After Lanier’s two rushing touchdowns, he was held to just 26-yards on the ground.

“It starts with our defensive coaches,” Vigilante said. “They are some of the best X’s and O’s guys I have ever worked with. We saw a problem with what we were doing and we fixed it.”

The offense woke up in the second half as well.

Running back pulled the Trojans within one possession when he crashed up the middle for a 12 yard score during the third quarter. Lupton played a hard fought game. He finished 70 yards on the ground.

That score set up the fourth quarter fireworks. Thanks to Holder and a tough defense, Bishop Ahr was able to grab the victory.

The Barrons had several big drives killed by penalties. The biggest was a holding penalty on defense with 3:20 left in the game. That allowed the Trojans to run off another minute of the clock.

Holder finished with 127 yards through the air and two touchdown passes. He also rushed for another 35 yards on eight carries.

Lanier had a big night for Woodbridge. He had 239 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. Fudge finished the game with 157 passing yards and a touchdown.

This was a game that both teams wanted after losing the two squads lost week one. Bishop Ahr was able to squeak by with a close White Division victory.

This night won’t be remembered for the missed field goal, but will forever belong to Vigilante.

WOODBRIDGE (0-2) …18 0 0 0 — 18

BISHOP AHR (1-1) …7 0 6 6 — 19

SCORING SUMMARY

W - Lanier 58 run (kick failed)

BA- Brazicki 54 pass (kick good)

W- Lanier 60 pass (kick failed)

W – Lanier 83 run (run failed)

BA – Lupton 12 run (kick failed)

BA- Howard 47 pass (run failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - W: Lanier 14-167, Fudge 5-(-7), Henry 2-4, Opoku 1-3, Rutkowski 1-(-18); BA: Luption 15-70, Holder 8-35, Brazicki 7-14, Howard 3-0, Robinson 1-2.

Passing - W: Fudge 10-18-157-1, Henry 0-1-0-0 ; BA: Holder 6-8-127-2, Galanted 0-2-0-0.

Receiving - W: Lanier 2-72, Smith 3-46, Glover 3-14, Opoku 1-11; BA: Brazicki 1-54, Howard 2-50, Trotman 1-13, Lupton 2-10.