Tag: Haddonfield

Instant Replay: (3) Haddonfield 24, (2) Bernards 14 (Central Group 2 Semifinals)

Click below to listen to the “Big Central Game of the Week” driven by Mark Montenero and his team at the world-famous Autoland from Friday, November 12, 2021.

It’s a Central Jersey, Group 2 semifinal game.

Second-seed Bernards fell 24-14 to third-seed Haddonfield, ending its season at 8-3.

Mike Pavlichko and Max Scheiner call the action from Olcott Field in Bernardsville, NJ.

1st Half
2nd Half

Turnovers plague Bernards in semifinal loss to Haddonfield

No turnover is good. Some come at less disastrous times than others.

The four Bernards committed Friday night all came at the worst possible times.

And they wound up costing the Mountaineers dearly, as the second-seeded home team lost 24-14 Friday night to third-seed Haddonfield at Olcott Field, as heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Big Central Game of the Week, driven by Autoland.

The first came on a well-executed opening drive of the game, as Bernards was marching downfield at will. Junioor Nick Kouflie fumbled as he ran down the left sideline, and the ball bounced right into the hands of Haddonfield’s Charlie Klaus, who returned it into Mountaineer territory/ They would quickly score to go up 7-0.

Bernards tied it up, Haddonfield went ahead again, but Bernards tied it again, and into the locker room they went tied at 14 apiece.

In the second half, Bernards defense was “bend but don’t break,” allowing a field goal that put the Bulldawgs up 17-14. But then on back-to-back possessions, the ‘Neers’ two quarterbacks each threw picks. And one more came on the final possession after Haddonfield couldn’t get one last first down to run out the clock.

Bernards finishes 8-3 on the season.

They also played the game without feature back Michael Leanza, who missed the last three full games of the season after suffering a fractured tibia against South River. Friday’s game was Bernards’ first loss with Leanza out of the lineup.

Click below for postgame reaction from Bernards head coach Jon Simoneau:

Here’s where you can find links to all our Week 2 Playoff previews, and more

Central Jersey Sports Radio’s coverage of the Big Central Conference in the NJSIAA state playoffs continues with previews of a number of games this weekend.

Check back after this weekend’s games for postgame reaction on cjsportsradio.com.

Listen to Episode 12 of “This Week in the Big Central” driven by Autoland by clicking below:

Game Preview Links:

Playoff Notes and Observations: Opening round is in the books

Bernards hoping Leanza is back for sectional semis, but still confident

Haddonfield’s Hahn gets more touches than the typical Bulldawgs back

Phillipsburg sticks to the script in reaching sectional semis, looks to ride the tide right into the finals

BREAKOUT STORY: Phillipsburg’s only win against Clifton was a loss

MacNair to return for Somerville as Pioneers face unbeaten Cedar Creek in sectional semis

Trojans will face another test when they open the playoffs against a South Jersey parochial power


The Schedule (Big Central teams in bold):

FRIDAY

(3) North Brunswick at (2) Cherokee, 6p (CJ5)
(6) Ridge at (2) Ramapo, 6:30p (N1-4)
(1) Hillsborough vs. (5) Williamstown, 7p (CJ5)
(7) Edison at (3) Toms River, 7p (SJ5)
(3) Phillipsburg at (2) Clifton, 7p (N2-5)
(5) Colonia at (1) Irvington, 7p (N2-4)
(3) Sayreville at (2) Middletown South, 7p (N2-4)
(1) Cranford vs. (4) Pascack Valley, 7p (N2-3)
(5) New Providence at (1) Pt. Pleasant Boro, 7p (SJ2)
(2) Bernards vs. (3) Haddonfield, 7p (CJ2) (CJSR)
(4) Hillside at (1) Raritan, 7p (CJ2)

SATURDAY

(4) Somerville at (1) Cedar Creek, 12p (SJ3)
(6) St. Thomas Aquinas at (3) St. Joseph-Hammonton, 1p (NP-B)

Bernards hoping Leanza is back for sectional semis, but still confident

Bernards senior runningback Michael Leanza was leading the state with well over a thousand rushing yards when he went down with a leg injury.

He hasn’t been back since.

The Mountaineers haven’t lost since, either.

But while junior Nicholas Kouflie has filled in quite ably – scoring in all three games Leanza has missed – head coach Jon Simoneau still wants him back when the second-seeded Mountaineers (8-2) take on third-seed Haddonfield (7-2) in the Central Jersey Group 2 semifinals at home Friday night, in the Big Central Game of the Week driven by Mark Montenero and his team at the world-famous Autoland.

Game time is at 7:00. Mike Pavlichko and Max Scheiner will call all the action live from Olcott Field in Bernardsville, with pregame set for 6:45. Click here to listen.

Simoneau says Leanza hopes to learn soon if he’ll be cleared to play.

Click below to hear head coach Jon Simoneau talk about his team and their matchup with Haddonfield: