Mike Carter has guided Bloomfield to the playoffs in each of the past four seasons as his Bengals have remained highly competitive in both the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League and the Super Essex Conference. (Photo by Sean Buldiger)

Mike Carter has enjoyed many a memorable moment as both a Bloomfield High School player and coach at historic Foley Field which will be refurbished during the next several months as the team plays on road in 2010. (Sideline Chatter photo)

BHS veteran QB Cavan Penberthy is one of the players to watch this fall as Bengals return 10 of 22 starters from a 4-6 squad in 2009. (photo courtesy of corbosport.com)

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That 1977 Sam Cavallaro-coached Bengals squad was the school’s best until Parlavecchio’s 8-2 squad in 1989, a monumental achievement by the latter group considering Bloomfield had been through the doldrums of a 0-39-1 winless streak until a Lorenzo Sozio touchdown pass accounted for the lone touchdown in a 7-0 win over Paramus Catholic on Oct. 1, 1988. That win was the program’s first since a 27-14 triumph over Paterson Eastside on Oct. 29, 1983. The Bengals had tied Paterson Kennedy, 7-7, on Oct. 10, 1986, for the only game that was not a loss during that stretch of time when Bloomfield did not win a single football game for five seasons.

“When we beat Paramus Catholic I felt so good for our players, who continued to work hard, and for the great job Chet did in turning things around for the program,” said Carter. “We felt we had Bloomfield football headed back in the right direction.”

Carter’s first game as the Bengals’ head man in 1991 was a significant one at the time as his squad knocked off Montclair in what was also Len Rivers’ debut as head coach at MHS following the memorable 1990 season that ended with Jack Davies’ resignation following the Mounties’ memorable last-second loss to Randolph in the North 2, Group 4 playoff final.

“Getting off to a good start is always great, but it took us a while to get it going again,” said Carter. “We had a lot of work to do, that’s for sure.”

Bloomfield finished 1-8 in ’91 and 2-7 in ’92, but Carter’s teams have continued to improve through the years and he carries a 83-99-1 record into his 20 th season the helm.

Since 1998 Bloomfield has reached the playoffs nine times in 12 seasons and although the Bengals are 0-9 during that time in playoff openers (while the school is 0-13 all time), the experience has remained special for Carter.

“It’s always a different group of kids and I’m proud of the effort our players have always given even if the result hasn’t been what we would have liked,” said the veteran Bengals’ head mentor. “We’ve had some good, solid teams during that time and we faced some excellent opposition.

“We’ll keep working as hard as we can to get back to the playoffs and, hopefully, we’ll get that first playoff victory one day soon.”

Bloomfield was 4-6 last fall, falling, 35-0, at Passaic Tech, in the first round of the North 1, Group 4 playoffs. The previous year’s result was much closer as Ridgewood edged the Bengals, 26-17.

Carter’s Bloomfield teams are 20-20 since 2006 and have been in the playoffs in each of those four seasons.

The Bengals graduated starters at 12 of 22 positions from last fall’s squad. With the refurbishing of Foley Field in the works, including the demolition and removal of the condemned concrete stands, Bloomfield will once again play every one of its games on the road.

Among the players to watch for Bloomfield in 2010 are veteran quarterback Cavan Penberthy (6-1, 180), who is in a battle with fellow senior Keith Marek (6-1, 205) for the starting nod so far this pre-season. Among the running backs to watch are seniors Doug Collins (5-9, 175) and Evon Conway (5-10, 195) along with sophomore John Varner (5-11, 175).

There are some big linemen that should continue to develop for BHS including a pair of promising sophomores in Marcell Lazard (6-6, 275) and Joe Rivera (6-1, 265).

This season promises to be a big challenge for the Bengals, who must compete with the likes of Seton Hall Prep, East Orange Campus, Irvington, West Orange, Montclair and West Side in a rigorous SEC-American.

The Bengals begin their 2010 sojourn on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 11, against Nutley at Park Oval.

“Every week you face a top-notch team, but our kids love the competition,” said Carter. “I’m really looking forward to the new season.

“I feel I’m a very lucky guy because I wake up every morning and know that I love what I do and that’s a terrific way to live while coaching some simply great kids while working with a superb group of assistant coaches and school administrators!”

BENGAL BANTER- Carter said his two biggest influences in life have been his late dad, Robert Carter, the former director of recreation in Bloomfield, and his grandfather, John Gibson, a 1928 Olympian in the intermediate hurdles and former, longtime successful track and field coach at Seton Hall University. “My dad and grandfather taught me so much about competing and working hard and never giving up,” said the Bengals’ head football coach. “I can never forget how much they both meant to me in my development as an athlete and as a coach.”…Robert Carter was a very good quarter miler and 600-meter track performer at SHU…Mike Carter’s uncle is Tom Gibson of West Orange, the former honorary chairman of the Yogi Berra Celebrity Golf Classic when the event was run through the Boy Scouts of America…Bloomfield scrimmages at West Essex, 10 a.m., Friday, Sept. 3…Mike Carter is a former defensive lineman at William Paterson…Mike’s son, Michael Carter, Jr., is an outstanding baseball infielder for the Bengals, and sophomore QB/DB in the football program…former BHS standout player and assistant coach Jermain Johnson, who also starred collegiately at Montclair State, is the second-year head coach at Paterson Eastside.

2010 Bloomfield Offense:

O-Line:

Adam Elmonary, 6-0, 250 senior

Messiah Haygood, 6-1, 265 senior

Marcell Lazard, 6-6, 275 sophomore

Joe Rivera, 6-1, 265 sophomore

Mike Wellins, 6-0, 210 senior

Dorain Williams, 6-1, 250 junior

Joe Yanuzzi, 6-1, 250 junior

Wide Receivers:

Mike Braun, 6-1, 190 junior

Malik Cooper, 6-0, 180 senior

Jani Jigar, 5-10, 165 senior

Christie Rose, 6-1, 195 senior

Tight End:

Joe Finkler, 6-1, 195 senior

QB’s:

Cavan Penberthy, 6-1, 180 senior

Keith Marek, 6-1, 205 senior

RB’s:

Doug Collins, 5-9, 175 senior

Evon Conway, 5-10 195 senior

John Varner, 5-11, 175 sophomore

Bloomfield Defense:

D-Line:

Adam Elmonairy, 6-0, 250 senior

Joe Finkler, 6-1, 195 senior

Messiah Haygood, 6-1, 265 senior

David Hicks, 6-0, 240 sophomore

Marcell Lazard, 6-6, 275 sophomore

Joe Rivera, 6-1, 265 sophomore

Robert Russoman, 6-2, 195 senior

Dorsey Williams, 6-1, 250 junior

LB’s:

Dylan Cetrulo, 6-0, 190 senior

Jesse Christiansen, 6-0, 190 senior

Tyquan Ludford, 6-0, 210 junior

Tashod Owens, 6-0, 180 senior

Jevon Santos, 6-0, 185 sophomore

Paul Valdez, 6-0, 195 senior

DB’s:

Mike Braun, 6-1, 190 junior

Doug Collins, 5-9, 175 senior

Eyon Conway, 5-10, 195 senior

Malik Cooper, 6-0, 180 senior

Warner Daity, 5-10, 195 senior

Isaih Dockett, 5-11, 175 sophomore

Cavan Penberthy, 6-1, 180 senior

John Varner, 5-11, 175 sophomore

Bloomfield’s 2010 Schedule:

Saturday, Sept. 11: at Nutley

Thursday night, Sept. 16: at Belleville

Saturday, Sept. 25: at West Orange

Saturday, Oct. 2: at Seton Hall Prep

Saturday, Oct. 9: at Irvington

Friday, Oct. 15: at East Orange Campus

Saturday, Oct. 23: at West Side

Friday, Oct. 29: at Livingston

Friday, Nov. 12-Saturday, Nov. 13: at playoffs or NJSIAA consolation

Thursday, Nov. 25: at Montclair

Bloomfield Football Coaches Since 1967:

Sam Cavallaro 1967-81

Joe Biscaha 1982-84

Al Rotella 1985

George Middleton 1986

Chet Parlavecchio 1987-90

Mike Carter 1991-Present

Bloomfield In Playoffs Under Mike Carter:

1998: Lost to Roxbury, 19-14

1999: Lost to Roxbury, 34-13

2000: Lost to Roxbury, 16-0

2001: Lost to Montclair, 35-14

2002: Lost to Montclair, 37-6

2006: Lost to West Orange, 33-21

2007: Lost to Ridgewood, 16-7

2008: Lost to Ridgewood, 26-17

2009: Lost to Passaic Tech, 35-0

Current Bloomfield Football College/Prep Players:

Albright: Bruce Arlett

FDU: Alex Campbell

Rowan: Josh Olivero

Rowan: Liam Penberthy

South Conn: Tevin Padilla

Albany: Said Gaida

Buffalo: Kris Sokoli

Maine: Erwin Roach

New Hampshire: Manny Asam

Rhode Island: Ryan Lawrence

Rhode Island: Derrick Gibson

Villanova: Emeka Ndichie

Worcester Prep: Ryan Rogers

WPU: Erik Yuneman

Former Bloomfield High School standout Jermain Johnson (left) was also an assistant coach for the Bengals under head man Mike Carter before being named the head coach at Paterson Eastside in 2009. Johnson's head coach at BHS was Chet Parlavecchio, who was Carter's boss as an assistant coach for Bengals from 1987-90. (Sideline Chatter photo)

Mike Carter says the Bloomfield players have made his 20-year reign as head coach of the Bengals worthwhile and enjoyable as the team perseveres. (Sideline Chatter photo)

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