Football: Pingry getting comfortable in new league

BERNARDS – The scene is a ritual at The Pingry School. Big Blue players singing "Old John Pingry" in the aftermath of a Saturday afternoon victory at Parsons Field.

Pingry sang the school song again Saturday, a spirited cap to a 35-6 victory over Morristown-Beard. The victory gave the Big Blue a 4-3 record in their first season in the Metropolitan Independent Football League, which consists of five private schools – Hackley School, Riverdale Country School, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Morristown-Beard and Montclair Kimberley Academy.

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Pingry was a member of the Mid-State 37 Union Division and Skyland Conference small school divisions for years.

The Big Blue is 3-1 in the league with wins over Morristown-Beard, Montclair Kimberley and Hackley and a 49-48 setback to Fieldston. Pingry could get a share of a title if it can win at Riverdale next Saturday and Fieldston loses to Hackley. The hopes are that the league expands to eight teams, allowing for a New York-New Jersey championship. 

“What this league is about is not talent because there are some good teams,” coach Chris Shilts said. “But each school recognizing that schools like ours, we need football, and for me to have football at my school you have to have football at your school. We are looking out for each other. What are your numbers like? Where are you? We are looking out for each other. It’s a league that looks out for each other and that’s the big difference and that’s what I’m thankful for.”

Senior and four year varsity player Obi Nnaeto was terrific, rushing for 255 yards and two touchdowns and also went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season. Nnaeto's touchdowns were of 22 and 65 yards.

Junior Brian Benson was 12-for-80 with one touchdown. 

“I think Obi is one of the best players in the county,” Shilts said.

Nnaeto, who’d like to play in the Ivy League, said the change of leagues wasn’t a priority to the team as much as was the drive to get stronger, better and more cohesive.

“My euphoria and my excitement is for this group of kids and this team, league or no league, and I love this league,” Shilts said. “The team and the journey has been special and that has nothing to do with the league.”

The team played the early part of the season away as the completion of a turf field was put in at Parsons.

“Grass is a little softer, but this is faster,” Nnaeto said.

This was the second time the Big Blue played on it. It was part of a project that included new bleachers that were put in about four years ago, Shilts said.

Pingry, Morristown-Beard and Montclair Kimberley recently had the 70 percent schedule rule waived. That allows the three to participate in the state playoffs. Shilts said Pingry will play a consolation game, but will not take part in the Non-Public III playoffs. Pingry was the seventh seed in the section coming into the game. 

“We need to have success, we need to have good things to happen and we are not really ready to make that big jump against a DePaul,” Shilts said. “Right now we are not ready to play the top three teams in the state. We need to go slow, careful, logical steps. We are going in the right direction.”