MOUNTAIN LAKES- One of the marks of a championship-caliber team is the ability to overcome adversity, such as injuries to key players.
On a comfortable Friday night at Wilkins Field, both Cedar Grove and Mountain Lakes had to play without their starting quarterbacks.
The Panthers got a 12-of-14, 153-yard, 1-TD passing performance from wide receiver-turned-QB Andrew Loftus, while the Herd was rendered one-dimensional, with zero passing yards and 24 total yards on 24 plays and two first downs.
The result was a 34-0 win for Cedar Grove (5-1), a strong response to continue a positive trend after last week’s 41-7 win over Boonton which followed a tough 28-20 loss to Hoboken when starting QB Daniel Lastella suffered a fractured ankle on the Panthers’ first offensive play of that contest.
Mountain Lakes (4-3) played Friday night’s game without its starting QB Lawson Fagan, and used running back Jack Bronico out of the wildcat most of the game.
“It was a tale of two teams as both teams were without their usual starting quarterbacks,” said Cedar Grove coach Rob Gogerty. “I’m proud of our guys stepping up and continuing to run our offense!
“After that first drive I thought we settled in. It took us a few plays but I thought we made a few quick adjustments to what they were doing without their quarterback.”
Cedar Grove established dominance early, and was never headed.
The Panthers took the opening kickoff and marched 81 yards in 11 plays to open the scoring. Loftus was a perfect 4-of-4 for 61 yards in that drive with three of those passes to Chris Miller. An 11-yard strike to Miller (5 catches, 62 yards, 1 TD) converted a 4th-and-3 from the CG 42, and a 34-yard bomb to Jack Velonas gave the Panthers 1st-and-goal at the 5. Two plays later, Jake Catanzarite (12 carries, 67 yards, 3 TD) blasted in from the 1 and it was 7-0 with 7:38 left in the first.
On the next series, Catanzarite made his presence felt on defense, recovering a Mountain Lakes fumble to set up Cedar Grove at the ML 38. Four plays later, Loftus found Miller open for a 32-yard TD to make it 13-0 Panthers with 4:29 left in the first.
The junior showed good poise in the pocket, and benefitted from a second full week of practice at the QB position since Lastella’s injury.
“It’s unfortunate how Dan went down, you never like to see that; but the whole team kind of stepped up,” said Loftus, who had his second straight very efficient passing night after completing 13-of-15 for 160 yards and a TD in the Oct. 2nd home win vs. Boonton. “They’re helping me out. I’m getting better every day and they’re getting better every day.
“The offensive line really helping me out, the receivers making great contested catches.
“It all really helps out.”
Cedar Grove would add one more score before halftime. A punt return by Miller coupled with a catch interference penalty moved the ball to the Mountain Lakes 23, and the Panthers took advantage of the short field. Loftus used his legs on a 4-yard scramble to the 12 to convert a 3rd-and-3, and Catanzarite did the rest. Four consecutive runs got the ball to the endzone, the last one a 1-yard score and it was 20-0 at the break.
The Panthers’ dominance continued in the second half. As in the first half, the Herd’s second offensive play resulted in a turnover. This time it was John Kukich intercepting a pass and returning it to the Herd 39. Two plays later, Catanzarite found a hole off left tackle, cut to the sideline and raced to the endzone for a 38-yard TD just 58 seconds into the half for a 27-0 lead.
A 15-play, 70-yard, seven-minute drive capped off the night for the visitors with 65 of those yards coming on the ground, with senior James Policano contributing 39 yards on six carries. His 5-yard score ensured a running clock with 11:29 left.
Cedar Grove will host longtime neighboring rival Verona next Friday night (Oct. 16), while Mountain Lakes travels to Hanover Park.
Cedar Grove (5-1) 13 7 7 7 34
Mountain Lakes (4-3) 0 0 0 0 0
Jake Catanzarite 1 run (Julian Cruz kick)
Chris Miller 32 pass from Andrew Loftus (kick failed)
Catanzarite 1 run (Cruz kick)
Catanzarite 38 run (Cruz kick)
James Policano 5 run (Cruz kick)
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