VERONA- The Verona Hillbillies came into Friday night’s game against Cedar Grove looking for their first win against their local rivals since the undefeated season of 2019.
Since then, the Hillbillies have been outscored in five meetings by a total of 206-28, including 83-14 in last year’s two meetings.
Unfortunately for Verona, it was a case of wash, rinse, repeat.
Using a punishing ground attack (41 carries, 208 yards) and a stout defensive effort, the Panthers made it six in a row in the rivalry with a 41-7 win on a comfortable evening before a large crowd at Thomas J. Sellitto Athletic Field in a Super Football Conference National Red matchup.
Although known for their wide-open passing attack, is this a new, ground-and-pound version of the Cedar Grove offense?
“I don’t know if it’s ground-and-pound, we’re starting to take what the defense gives us” said Panthers coach Rob Gogerty, now in his 10th season. “That’s been the motto, just to score points on however the defense lines up. They kind of backed off, they played the box a little soft so I thought we ran the ball well.
The Panthers set the tone on the game’s first drive. Behind the running of senior Thomas Cannataro (16 carries, 94 yds., 1 TD) and senior QB Pierce Asfalg (16 carries, 79 yds., 2 TD), Cedar Grove drove from their 28 to the Verona 18. The key to the drive was a six-yard run by Cannataro on 4th-and-2 from the Panther 36. Two pass completions moved the ball to the 3, and two plays later Asfalg scored on a 1-yard sneak and it was 7-0 Panthers five minutes in.
Cedar Grove would extend the lead in the second quarter with a 13-play, 86-yard drive that took four minutes. A 20-yard scamper by Asfalg moved the ball to the Verona 27 and a 15-yard rumble by Cannataro put the Panthers in the red zone. Cannataro finished the drive with a 1-yard blast and it was 13-0 with 6:32 left in the half.
“He’s getting better and better every game” added Gogerty on the play of Asfalg. “I think the more live reps he gets the better he’s gonna get. He’s a gamer, a really good athlete. It’s his first time out there under pressure with stunts, changing coverages and things like that.
Taking advantage of a Cedar Grove mistake, Verona got on the board before halftime. After recovering a muffed punt at the Panther 15, Bodie Maisano (23 carries, 104 yds., 1 TD) bulled in from 2 yards out with eight seconds left and it was 20-7 at the break.
After a Verona three-and-out to start the second half, the Panthers put together an 8-play, 73-yard scoring drive, all on the ground. The offensive line asserted its dominance, culminating with a 23-yard scoring jaunt by Asfalg (12-18, 170 yds., 2 TD, 1 INT) and at 27-7, Cedar Grove never looked back.
Although the Hillbillies managed 269 yards of offense, they rarely threatened as the Cedar Grove defense kept them out of the red zone outside of the scoring drive.
Gogerty summed it up.
“We’re playing hard. We’ve got to clean some things up in practice. I’m not really happy with the way practice is going, but it’s a lot of new kids playing varsity football for the first time.”
Cannataro made the team’s goal very clear.
“Last year, state championship, we went to MetLife, that’s what we’re trying to get back to. We’re an edgy team, a gritty team and that’s what we’re gonna take with us and ride to MetLife”.
Cedar Grove will host Madison next Friday, while Verona travels to Schools Stadium for a Friday night meeting with Newark Collegiate.
Cedar Grove (2-1) 7 13 7 14 41
Verona (1-2) 0 7 0 0 7
CG - Pierce Asfalg 1 run (Sebastian Kovacs kick)
CG – Thomas Cannataro 1 run (kick failed)
CG – Xavier Andujar 35 pass from Asfalg (Kovacs kick)
V – Bodie Maisano 2 run (Ryan Cavallo kick)
CG – Asfalg 23 run (Kovacs kick)
CG – Kovacs 64 fumble return (Kovacs kick)
CG – Jack Velonas 34 pass from Asfalg (Kovacs kick)
