Summit vs. Cranford High School Football, 9/21/2012

                On the final night of summer, Cranford and Summit played a fall classic at Memorial Field but in the end a thrilling Cougar comeback went for naught as a 42 yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining gave the visitors a 30-27 victory. The loss was the first of the season for Cranford and the 30^th straight regular season triumph for Summit, which handed Cranford its only loss of 2011, a 52-21 beating that became a rallying point for Cranford’s first state football title. The teams could still meet again later this fall as they are now in the same group but Cranford Coach Erik Rosenmeier knows his team has much work to do to repeat as state champions.

“We have to take better care of the ball if we want to get back to where we were last year,” said Rosenmeier after the game.

                Cranford lost three fumbles and an interception and was sloppy in its kicking game, but made numerous spectacular plays and dominated the fourth quarter to come back from a 27-12 deficit to tie the game on quarterback Reggie Green’s 10 yard run with 53 seconds left.  The final drive included Green converting a fourth and six by running for a first down on a great block by Chris Folinusz. Rosenmeier said he considered going for the two point conversion and the lead but opted to let Troy Kettler kick the tying extra point.

                The ensuing kickoff was short and Summit returned it past midfield. A questionable 15 yard face mask penalty against Cranford moved Summit into field goal range. Green had led an eight-play, 84-yard drive, hitting Folinusz on a 44-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 27-18. Folinusz caught a pass over the middle and ran through several tackles for the score and the hauled in Green’s two point conversion pass with one hand to bring Cranford within 27-20, with 5:03 left in the game.

“Chris is an amazing athlete. He can play eight different positions and makes plays like that all the time,” said Rosenmeier.

                Cranford then opted to attempt an onside kick, and it succeeded with Kettler perfectly hitting a ball that bounced high and allowed the Cougars a chance at recovery. Taking possession on the Summit 45, Green led another scoring drive, this one lasting eight plays, including a fourth-and-6 conversion. It ended when Green scored on a 10-yard touchdown run with 53 seconds left in regulation. Troy Kettler's PAT then tied the game.

Green had another spectacular game, gaining 205 yards on 28 carries, rushing for three touchdowns and throwing for another, but Green was not only dissatisfied with the result but his performance.

“I made too many mistakes tonight. We made a lot of plays but we cannot turn the ball over and giving our defense a short field to defend,” said Green, whose most spectacular play an 84 yard touchdown run in the third quarter, followed a kickoff where he almost fumbled into the end zone.

                Although he was not happy with the loss and some aspects of Cranford’s play, Rosenmeier was pleased with the way his team fought back in the fourth quarter.

“We dug a hole for ourselves but the team never quit and we gave ourselves a chance to win,” said Rosenmeier.

                Cranford started slowly in the first quarter and did not make a first down in its initial two possessions. Summit struck first for a 7-0 lead before Green and halfback Jim Dwyer led an 80 yard drive, mostly on the ground, which culminated in a sweep to the right where Green used his prodigious speed to sprint to the end zone from 20 yards out.  A missed extra point left Cranford trailing 7-6 at the half.

                Summit scored first in the second half for a 14-6 lead before Green ran 84 yards to cut the lead to two. Cranford missed the two point conversion to tie the game before Summit took advantage of turnovers to enter the final period with a 27-12 lead. Overshadowed in the Cranford comeback and tough loss was the standout defensive play of linebacker Nick Diaz, who had 18 tackles, including four for losses and linebacker Joe DaSilva who had 11 tackles.

                After the game a drained Rosenmeier reflected on bouncing back from a tough loss to an opponent that the Cougars have yet to solve.

“There was a lot to like about this game. We had a number of outstanding performances on both sides of the ball and the comeback was something we can build on for the rest of the year.”

                Reminded that the Cougars went on their state tournament run after the loss to Summit last year, Rosenmeier smiled and noted how he hoped that history could repeat itself.