All-Star Football (East 19 - West 14)

East Slips Past West in Robeson Game 19-14

by Andrew Sidebottom for MorrisCountyHSsports.net

In the 13th annual Paul Robeson All-Star game, the East, Essex, Warren and some of Passaic counties, nipped the West, Passaic, Morris, and Sussex County, 19-14 in a storm-delayed game.
The West took the lead in the first quarter, after a long drive when Anthony Giordano (Clifton) found Sam Paul of Newton in the end zone from 14 yards out. The West not having the extra point put in when for two but it was intercepted. That drive had a 4th-and-1 from the 18 but Giordano darted through a nice hole for 4 yards on a QB-draw. On the next play, the West scored. The first half was marred with turnovers, with there being five fumbles and three intercepts in the half, including Eric Berman intercepting a pass in the end zone with under a minute to go in the half to preserve the West lead going into the locker room.

In the third quarter, the West drove the ball to the ten behind the arm and legs of Newton’s Steve Zander and Delbarton’s Matt Bruno recovered a fumble and picked up seven extra yards. The West then went for it on fourth down at the East 10 but failed to convert as Paul had a touchdown but could not hold on to the ball after being clocked by a defender. Later in the quarter, Frank DeFranco (Seton Hall Prep) intercepted a Zander pass at the West 14. Then on the ensuing play, Tommy Fisher (Livingston) connected with Amir Morris of Irvington for the score and with the PAT, the East took a 7-6 lead with 11 seconds in the quarter. The skies opened up, the storm rushed in and caused over an hour delay.

When the game resumed, the East looked a well-oiled machine, scoring two touchdowns both on passes one by Fisher and one by Lamar Williams, of Orange, to bring the score to 19-6. Then with just about two minutes left on the clock, the West team answered when Dan Letts of Par Hills scored to make it 19-14. After a defensive stop, the West got the ball and drove to the 45 with four seconds left. Zander scrambled ... and scrambled some more, to find Jefferson’s Buddy Miller running down the sideline and doving for the end zone, Reggie Bush style. But had the ball knocked out at the half-yard line and the East recovered to end the game.

The East was lead by Tommy Fisher who threw for two touchdown passes, while the West offense was lead by Steve Zander and Dan Letts. The defense was lead by linebackers Vinny Lombardazzi of Par Hills, and West Milford’s RJ Howell.