The Millstone Eagles Pop Warner Midget football team defeated the Allentown Central Redbirds on Sept. 25 by a score of 26-8. The Eagles put on a dominating display of running the football with well over 300 yards on the ground. Mario Coppa rushed for 200 yards and scored touchdowns, often carrying Redbird defenders on his back for extra yards. Joining Coppa with an outstanding performance of his own was Chris Fatigato, who ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns. The Millstone offensive line did a solid job blocking and was a major reason for the success of the Eagle running attack. Outstanding performances were turned in by Tom Walker, Mike Ballo, Anthony Gazzinigo, Nick Villanuevo and Torre Rossano.

As good as the offense played, the defense was even better. The Eagles put on an awesome display of run defense. The blitz-happy Eagle attack was led by linebackers Tom Walker and Sean Eccles. Walker was a man possessed

as he blitzed repeatedly to stop the

Redbirds behind the line of scrimmage. Sean Eccles and Dylan Hankinson made drive stopping tackles over and over again. Hankinson would seemingly appear from out of nowhere to make tackles on sweep plays that appeared to be going for big gains.

The Millstone defensive backs also got in on the action. Torre Rossano and Brett Miller each made an interception. Rossano returned his 70 yards for a touchdown, only to have the score nullified by a questionable block in the back penalty. The Millstone Eagles are in only their second year of existence. This victory over archrival Allentown will be savored for a long time by the Eagles.

The Allentown Vultures U14 boys defeated the Lacey Krunch, 6-1. Alex Furmanac scored three goals and Bobby Servis, Andrew Ratcliffe, and Alessandro (AC) Mazzone score one goal each. Chris Tyminski was in goal for the first time and only give up a penalty shot.

After a battle featuring two of the best Mitey Mite teams in Central New Jersey, the Millstone Eagles emerged victorious and registered a 23-8 victory over a previously unbeaten Hightstown Rams team. The Eagles improved to 5-1. In a game much closer and hard fought than the score would indicate, the Eagles’ veteran trio of Kevin Mackiewicz, Brian Plutino and Ian Walker each contributed a touchdown. Jake Faber, Anthony Lucarella, and DJ Griffiths anchored the Eagles’ line up front and James Abramo added a few runs to the Eagles ground attack.

Zack “Rhino” Turner tackled a Ram in the end zone for a crucial two-point safety, which gave the Eagles an eight-point lead late in the game. The safety was the culmination of a tremendous team effort by the Eagles defense. At nearly every turn, the Rams’ runners were greeted with hard hits delivered by Michael Murphy, Anthony Morrone, Sean and Michael Goldsman, and normally several other Eagle players on the field at the time.

Unbeknown to the spectators in the stands, the Eagles apparently had a little extra reason to win on Sunday. Soft-spoken Eagles lineman Alex “The Crusher” Alves offered the following, “Before the game, coach Mike told us he really wanted this one and asked us to win the game for him. When we heard this, we knew we had to reach deep down and do our best on each and every play.”

The Allentown Central Redbirds Mitey Mite team took away the Millstone Eagles’ hopes for undefeated season with a 14-7 victory The offense came out strong, working their way down the field. At the end of the eight-play drive, quarterback Chris Azzarello put the Redbirds on the scoreboard with a bull’s-eye pass to Steve Adams. The Eagles stormed back and put points on the board with their first possession. They were the last points the Eagles would score. The Redbirds scored again in the second quarter when Azzarello handed off to Jake Alessi. Alessi took the ball into the end zone after a 63-yard sideline gallop. Late in the third quarter, Azzarello took a fierce hit, forcing a temporary change in quarterbacks. Backup QB Robert Ellerson came in and continued to move against the Eagles. Azzarello soon returned to pick up where he had left off.

The Redbirds’ offense chewed up the clock with a 14-play drive that went through the third quarter into the fourth on the heels of an impressive line, led by Kyle Emley, Mike Peters, Eric Sullivan, Dylan Lamb, Anthony Murphy, Joey Pritchard, Andy Clark and Cris Masserini. The drive was highlighted by not one, but two long touchdown runs (one was 97 yards) by Trevor Sullivan that were called back, but in true Redbird spirit, the O-line kept their chins high and muscled outward chewing up time.

It was another outstanding day for the defense, holding Millstone to one first-quarter touchdown, followed by three scoreless quarters. The Eagles quarterback found himself under attack from several Redbirds, including second quarter sack by Ben Wagner, and two third-quarter sacks by combinations of Wagner and Connor Sullivan, as well as Adams and Sullivan. The defense continued in the third quarter by demonstrating teamwork at its best. Wagner combined with Connor Sullivan yet again, as well as with Robert Ellerson. Jimmy Cadigan ended a side-line run by delivering a punishing blow, pushing the ball carrier out of bounds. Matt Bluish intimidated the Eagles’ ball carrier, forcing them to run straight into tackles handed to them by Michael Hogan, Tyler Chase and Freddie Bush. Willy Fiordland single-handily stopped a possible Eagles TD, while Kyle Lysy’s moves forced Millstone to attempt a fourth down, which was stopped by a powerful line. The fourth quarter include back-field tackles by both Trevor Sullivan and Steven Adams. Additionally Jake Morse contributed significantly to the defensive line, which rounded out by Troy Wittholt and Garrick Ross.

On Sept. 25, the Allentown Central Pee Wee football team took on Millstone, marking the first meeting of these two clubs since they split a couple of years ago. The Redbirds, despite the loss of five members of their team earlier in the week, came out strong and were able to hold off a very determined, hard-hitting Millstone team. With scores by Sam Shonk, Robert O’Connor and Matt Morini, led by quarterback Billy Reed, the Redbirds scored 21 unanswered points. With many changes made during the week, the offensive lines of Anthony Rice, Patrick Ryder, James Cocorles, Jimmy King, Austin Cheeseman, Kyle Lewis, Tyler Tice, Yafee Dunbar, Quemenc Woodley, Jordan Schropshire, Josh Golub and Chris Schladerback put together a great effort and created running lanes for the running backs. Defensively, Anthony Toleno, Dylan Barker, Mitchell Dey, Dillion Liochle, Zamin Zazim with Jimmy King and others were able to keep their opponent off the scoreboard. This was Allentown’s second shutout in a row.

The Allentown X-Treme U-9 boys soccer team improved their record to 4-0 this week against Howell. Playing at home, the X-Treme started the scoring early when Kevin Pierera sent the ball across the six to Justin Scarano who found the net. This game was all about passing. The X-Treme held control of the ball with one-touch passing starting in the back by Robert Ellerson and Brody Zauner. They moved the ball up to Jake Alessi who assisted William Sjaastsad to make it 2-0. Goalie Josh Samuels saved a penalty kick at the close of the first half to keep it that way. The second half was filled with action as Rory Green sent multiple crosses into the box. Eric Sullivan tried to convert the crosses as Allentown pressured Howell’s defense. Goal number three came when Matt DeRisi accepted a pass from Pierera to make it 3-1. Defenders Joey Patrylow and Conner Sullivan held strong to keep the X-Treme ahead. Allentown has outscored its opponents 15-2 in their first four games this season. They look forward to a tough home game against Toms River on Saturday.

The Allentown Charge U-11 girls soccer team traveled to the shore to take on the Toms River Wildcats with both team coming into the game with a 2-1 record. The game got off to a quick start with both teams putting pressure on the opposing defense. First-half goalie Sarah Mottram shined with a couple outstanding saves and was supported by a strong defense of Taylor Bachik, Bianca Covitz, Stephanie Falsetti and Kelly Tohill. The first half concluded with a 0-0 score. The Charge received some spirited advice from its coaching staff and was quickly rewarded with a Krysta Plummer pass to Jillian Frein for a quick goal just minutes into the second half. The Charge midfielders, led by Erin Primich, then helped the forwards by feeding them passes and creating opportunities. Krysta Plummer took advantage and placed a ball past the Wildcat goalkeepper for a 2-0 lead. Jamie Perritt capped off the scoring with a beautiful shot into the corner of the net and a 3-0 lead. Second-half goalie Shannon Abbott came up big by denying any Wildcat shots and the Charge forwards, Lena Campbell, Taylor Frein, Kimberly Wilson, and Stephanie Sjaastad played strong in the 3-0 victory.