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Sports

Raiders Ready to Challenge Cranford in First Football Game

The game will be played on Cranford's new FieldTurf surface this Saturday at 7 p.m.

After a rare year last season when the two Union County teams did not face each other, Scotch Plains-Fanwood and Cranford will get reacquainted on the gridiron this weekend.

The two teams will have the county stage all to themselves as they open against each other Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Cranford’s Memorial Field.

It will be the first regular season game played on Memorial Field’s brand new FieldTurf surface.

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Scotch Plains got FieldTurf last year and opened with three straight home games on its new surface, going 1-2 in that span.

The Raiders are coming off a 4-6 season, which was their second sub-.500 campaign in the last three. Scotch Plains did finish strong by winning two of its final three contests.

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Cranford is coming off a 3-7 season, which was its first under .500 since going 2-8 for the third consecutive year in 2001.The Cougars won three of their last six games to take some momentum into this season.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood wrapped its scrimmage season by hosting Elizabeth in its game-scrimmage last Friday morning. Cranford’s game-scrimmage was at home against Somerville last Friday night, which was to be the first game of any kind played on its new FieldTurf surface.

Both teams return their quarterbacks, with second-year starter and senior Gary Binkiewicz (6-2, 190) leading the Multiple-I offense for Scotch Plains-Fanwood.

“I think he could be one of the best around,” 19th-year head coach Steve Ciccotelli said. “He’s got great arm strength and great leadership and he’s a good athlete, very competitive.”

Binkiewicz, also one of the top pitchers in Union County, has the ability to drop back and also run east-west with the ball. He has the kind of arm that can get the ball down the field both accurately and in a hurry.

“We’ll take advantage of what the defense gives us,” Ciccotelli said.

“We have a little more freedom this year, running plays and stuff,” Binkiewicz said following his team’s first scrimmage at home against Bishop Ahr. “We’re able to call audibles this year. Sometimes we run a spread, but we’re rally a Power-I.”

Binkiewicz will have two new running backs in the backfield with him, including senior Javen Hawkins and junior Quinton Blackwell. He’s excited to get under center again for another gridiron season and worked on many elements of his game in the pre-season.

“I’m working on reads,” Binkiewicz said. “Reading defenses before the play develops is important. I also need to stay composed and not rush things or try to force them.”

Scotch Plains-Fanwood has a young and inexperienced line in front of Binkiewicz, so that unit will need some time to mature and gain confidence.

Cranford’s returning quarterback is two-year starter and junior Joe Papandrea (5-9, 170). Although not as big as Binkiewicz, Papandrea made great strides during the second half of 2008 as the Spread Option offense he guided gained more confidence once it reached the end zone more frequently.

“They always say – they being option coaches – that they really look forward to the second year with the quarterback and we’re truly looking forward to that this year with Joe,” fifth-year Cranford head coach Erik Rosenmeier said. “Running the option, we expect him to make the right reads all the time. In the off-season he worked on arm strength and will help the team running and passing. He has to run the show and he is aware of that.”

Unlike Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Cranford has experienced returning running backs in Sean Trotter and Justin Van Ostenbridge, both juniors like Papandrea. Speedy senior Will Green, also a fine basketball player, is a threat at wide receiver.

Mitch McNamara (6-2, 300) of Scotch Plains and Joe Brady (6-0, 260) of Cranford are outstanding senior two-way linemen. McNamara is a tackle on offense and Brady the right guard on offense. Both play nose guard on defense.

While Scotch Plains reached the North 2, Group 3 semifinals as recently as two years ago, Cranford has yet to reach the state playoffs under Rosenmeier’s tenure.

Rosenmeier, in his first stint as a head coach, has guided Cranford to two winning seasons in his first four years and a 20-20 record. This year the former Scotch Plains assistant coach has his sights set on leading the Cougars to the Central Jersey, Group 2 playoffs for the first time since 2004.

Rosenemeier not only coached under Ciccotelli at Scotch Plains and was also the athletic director there, but he played for Ciccotelli at Johnson Regional.

Rosenmeier, who played briefly in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills during the strike of 1987, is a 1983 Johnson Regional graduate who played for Ciccotelli when he was the head coach at Johnson Regional. Ciccotelli, a 1967 Johnson Regional graduate, was the head coach at the Clark school for eight seasons from 1980-1987.

Since Cranford’s resurgence in football in 2002 — which was its first winning season in a long time and only second playoff season and first since 1975 — Scotch Plains and Cranford have had some memorable games.

In 2002, Cranford went to Scotch Plains as the underdog and came away with a big 13-6 triumph that propelled it to an eventual playoff berth in North 2, Group 3 and a winning season at 6-4.

In 2003, Scotch Plains went to Cranford with a 3-0 record, while Cranford was 4-0. This battle of unbeatens went to Scotch Plains 33-22 as the Raiders used their size advantage that night to erase a 14-13 halftime deficit and roll in the second half.

Scotch Plains went on to reach the North 2, Group 3 championship game at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford that year, falling to Ridge 27-0 and finishing 10-2.

Cranford reached the North 2, Group 2 semifinals that year, where the Cougars were edged at Rutherford 27-24 in the final two minutes. Cranford had four leads in the game. The Cougars finished 8-3 that season after capturing their first and still-only playoff victory, a home win over Voorhees.

In 2004, a senior-laden Cranford team went to Scotch Plains and came away with a convincing 28-14 victory.

In 2005, Cranford had a big lead on Scotch Plains at home only to see the Raiders come back and tie the game and send it to overtime. Cranford prevailed 26-23 in single OT.

In 2006, because of rain over the weekend, Cranford and Scotch Plains battled in a rare Monday afternoon matchup at Scotch Plains. Trailing by a point late in the fourth quarter, Cranford put together a drive long enough to kick a game-winning field goal at the end to come out on top 15-13.

In 2007, the teams had to play at Cranford on a Sunday night because the game was postponed due to rain two nights earlier. Scotch Plains was too much for Cranford and outscored the Cougars 42-20, preventing Cranford from qualifying in Central Jersey, Group 2. Cranford went on to beat Johnson at home the next weekend and prevent the Crusaders from making the playoffs in CJ, G2 as well. The Cougars then won their sectional consolation game to finish 6-4.

Rosenmeier is 2-1 against the team he used to be an assistant coach at.

“Two years ago they beat us pretty good,” Rosenmeier said. “The games we played against them the two years before that were very close, so Scotch Plains could be 3-0 against us the last three times we played them. It’s always a struggle against Scotch Plains. You know you are going to get great defensive play from them, they run the ball and they’re very well-coached.”

“Erik has done a fine job over at Cranford,” Ciccotelli said. “We didn’t play them last year, so we will have to study them a bit more to be ready for that first game.”

Both teams lost their openers last year and got off to slow starts, so both will want to get out of the gate with a victory this time.

“We better execute and be ready to play for four quarters if we’re going to have a chance to win,” Rosenmeier said. “What I like about our team is that we have more weapons on the field than in the past. We have 5 to 6 guys that can hurt you. Defensively, we have a number of guys back as well.”

NOTES: When Scotch Plains and Cranford faced each other before the 2007 season, it was as Watchung Conference-National Division foes.

Then Cranford became the last team from the Watchung Conference to leave for the Mountain Valley Conference, with the Cougars being situated in the Mountain Division beginning with the 2007 season.

The teams still played each other in 2007 although they were in different conferences, but did not face each other last year.

 Now both Scotch Plains and Cranford are in the same conference again – the newly-formed Mid-State 39.

Scotch Plains is one of six Union County schools in the Watchung Division, while Cranford is one of six Union County schools in the Mountain Division.

The Mid-State 39 Conference consists of 39 teams in seven divisions, including the 17 teams from Union County and 22 more from Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties. Each division will crown a champion based on winning percentage. 

SCOTCH PLAINS-CRANFORD FOOTBALL SERIES

SINCE CRANFORD’S RESURGENCE IN 2002:

2008: Did not play

2007: Scotch Plains 42, Cranford 20 – at Cranford

2006: Cranford 15, Scotch Plains 13 – at Scotch Plains

2005: Cranford 26, Scotch Plains 23 (OT) – at Cranford

2004: Cranford 28, Scotch Plains 14 – at Scotch Plains

2003: Scotch Plains 33, Cranford 22 – at Cranford

2002: Cranford 13, Scotch Plains 6 – at Scotch Plains 

SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD'S MULTIPLE-1 OFFENSE

T Mitch McNamara, senior, (6-0, 300)

G David Kreps, senior, (6-0, 240)

C John Howarth, junior, (5-10, 180)

T Matt Manns, junior, (6-4, 245)

G Mike Tufaro, junior, (6-0, 260)

WR Doran Nelson, senior, (6-3, 175)

QB Gary Binkiewicz, senior, (6-2, 190)

RB Javen Hawkins, senior, (5-7, 165)

RB Quinton Blackwell, junior, (5-9, 150)

FB Neville Hall, junior, (5-10, 230)

FB Kyle Berwick, junior, (5-10, 175)

TE Alex Graham, senior, (5-10, 175)

WR Mike Marsan, senior, (5-11, 175)

PK-P Mike Burke, senior, (6-3, 180) 

SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD'S 4-4 DEFENSE

NG Mitch McNamara, senior, (6-0, 300)

T David Kreps, senior, (6-0, 240)

E Mike Tufaro, junior, (6-0, 260)

E Matt Manns, junior, (6-4, 245)

ILB Neville Hall, junior, (5-10, 230)

ILB Kyle Berwick, junior, (5-10, 175)

OLB Javen Hawkins, senior, (5-7, 165)

OLB Alex Graham, senior, (5-10, 175)

CB Doran Nelson, senior, (6-3, 175)

CB Mike Marsan, senior, (5-11, 175)

CB Quinton Blackwell, junior, (5-9, 150)

S Gary Binkiewicz, senior, (6-2, 190)

S J.C. Davidson, junior, (5-10, 160)  

SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD RAIDERS

2009 SCHEDULE

Sept. 12 at Cranford, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 at Linden, 2:30 p.m.

Sept. 26 Warren Hills, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Immaculata, 7 p.m.

Oct. 10 Phillipsburg, 1 p.m.

Oct. 17 Westfield, 1 p.m.

Oct. 24 Summit, 1 p.m.

Oct. 31 at Rahway, 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 at North Hunterdon, 7 p.m.

2008: (4-6)

Head coach: Steve Ciccotelli, 19th year,

92-90 (.506). 

CRANFORD’S SPREAD OPTION OFFENSE:

LT Bobby Anstatt, junior, (6-1, 230)

LG Jim Brady, senior, (6-1, 250)

C Tim Handy, junior, (6-0, 230)

C Alex Bartley, senior, (6-0, 220)

RT Julian Campo, senior, (6-0, 215)

RG Joe Brady, senior, (6-0, 260)

WR Will Green, senior, (6-3, 215)

WR Kasim Lewis, junior, (6-0, 190)

WR Anthony Petrowski, senior, (6-2, 170)

WR Mike VanLiew, senior, (6-2, 175)

QB Joe Papandrea, junior, (5-9, 170)

QB Chris Keim, senior, (6-0, 170)

RB Sean Trotter, junior, (5-8, 145)

RB Justin Van Ostenbridge, junior, (6-1, 170)

Starters Trotter and Van Ostenbridge

are slotbacks and also referred to as A backs.

RB Adham McGuire, sophomore, (5-9, 165)

RB Chris Witwick, sophomore, (5-9, 150)

FB J.T. Vicci, junior, (5-11, 190)

Starter Vicci is referred to as a B back.

FB Tyrone Avent, junior, (5-9, 180)

Avent is also referred to as a B back.

PK Robert Gaeta, junior, (5-8, 150)

P Justin Van Ostenbridge, junior, (6-1, 170)    

CRANFORD’S 3-3 STACK DEFENSE:

NG Joe Brady, senior, (6-0, 260)  

E Bobby Anstatt, junior, (6-1, 230)  

E Bryan Fitzsimmons, junior, (5-11, 185)

NG Adam Smith, junior, (5-9, 165)

E T.J. Nichols, sophomore, (6-0, 220)

LB J.T. Vicci, junior, (5-11, 190)

LB Alex Bartley, senior, (6-0, 220)  

LB Mike Klimek, sophomore, (5-11, 185)

LB Anthony DaSilva, sophomore, (5-10, 185)

LB J.P. Christiano, sophomore, (5-9, 165)

FS Justin Van Ostenbridge, junior, (6-1, 170)   

SS Will Green, senior, (6-3, 215)  

SS Kasim Lewis, junior, (6-0, 190)

CB-PR-KR Sean Trotter, junior, (5-8, 145)

CB Chris Witwick, sophomore, (5-9, 150)

CB Adham McGuire, sophomore, (5-9, 165)  

CB-PR-KR Kendall Grier, senior, (5-10, 175)  

CRANFORD COUGARS

2009 SCHEDULE

Sept. 12 Scotch Plains, 7 p.m.

Sept. 17 Hillside, 7 p.m.

Sept. 25 North Plainfield, 7 p.m.

Oct. 3 at Rahway, 2 p.m.

Oct. 9 at Johnson, 7 p.m.

Oct. 16 Summit, 7 p.m.

Oct. 23 at Delaware Valley, 7 p.m.

Oct. 30 Governor Livingston, 7 p.m.

Nov. 6 at Voorhees, 7 p.m.

2008: (3-7)

Head coach: Erik Rosenmeier, fifth year,

20-20 (.500).  

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