Capone and Dumont keep Thanksgiving streak alive by Greg Mattura of The Record
TENAFLY – Steven Capone owns the unique honor of winning four consecutive Thanksgiving football games in a Dumont uniform.
Capone and the Huskies stretched their Thanksgiving winning streak to a program-record four games with a 43-6 victory over Tenafly on Thursday at Geissinger Field in the 69th edition of this holiday rivalry.
“It means the world,” said Capone, a two-way senior lineman. “At the beginning of freshman year [in 2014], we knew that we had the chance to start it because our seniors brought the win for us.”
That win in 2014 was significant for Dumont, because it snapped a streak of nine consecutive victories by Tenafly. In a tradition that began in 1949, Tenafly has dominated, winning 10 in a row starting in 1964, and leading the series, 44-24-1.
Capone is one of eight seniors on a 41-player roster, but he is the only one who was in uniform for this game as a freshman, coach Rick Burd said. It’s a major turnaround considering that, while these 12th graders were in first through eighth grades, Dumont was suffering one loss after another to Tenafly.
The victory also was significant for Burd, a 2006 Dumont graduate in his first season as head coach after serving as an assistant. He is part of a streak that surpassed the Huskies’ group that won three in a row starting in 1957.
“No matter what level you’re at, player, coach, or the head coach now, it’s sweet to win,” Burd said. “This one’s a little sweeter because it’s the fourth and my first one as a head coach.”
Big finish: Dumont (5-5) finished .500 by winning four of its last five games. This is the second time in three years that the Huskies finished .500, and their last winning season was 6-4 in 2006.
“Unfortunately, 1-4 was not the start we were looking for,” Burd said. “But at the halfway point in the year, I challenged my guys to come out and answer the call. And the seniors took the team on their back and carried them the rest of the way, and that’s a testament to the seniors, that’s a testament to the captains, and that’s why we are 4-1 in the last five games.”
NorthJersey.com’s Darren Cooper talks with Northern Valley Demarest quarterback Austin Albericci for this week’s 100 yard walk. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com
Hasbrouck Heights brings it’s 18 game winning streak to Rutherford as they meet the Bulldogs for the NJIC title. Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com
Chris Iseman walks and talks with Hasbrouck Heights quarterback James Klenk before this Friday’s NJIC Championship game. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com
This old rivalry was even more dramatic this year as former Don Bosco head coach Greg Toal, now the Bergen Catholic defensive, returned to coach against his former team. Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com
Darren Cooper walks and talks to Dylan Classi of Bergen Catholic and Kevin Brennan of Don Bosco for 100 yards before the 69th meeting of these two football teams coming this Friday night.Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com
Darren Cooper talks about the game’s highlights as the Falcons came to Rutherford to take on the Bulldogs. Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com
The lineman was part of an impressive defensive showing. Jim McConville/Special to NorthJersey.com
Darren Cooper walks and talks 100 yards with Rutherford running back Billy Finn. Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com
A classic game in Clifton as the Mustangs staged a late game come back by forcing overtime then defeating JFK 32-26. Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com
Bergen Catholic defeated Pope John, 20-19. Greg Mattura/NorthJersey.com
West Milford senior football players participate in sixth annual “Pass, Punt & Read” program. Nick Gantaifis/NorthJersey.com
On Friday, Oct. 13, several Verona football players’ parents cheered for their sons at the high school as the latter team boarded the bus for North Warren. The district is reviewing a matter regarding the football program. Robert Aitken, Jr/NorthJersey.com
Bergen Catholic coach Nunzio Campanile talks about his team’s approach to St. Peter’s Prep on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. Darren Cooper/NorthJersey.com
Kicker Rafael Zurita, who drilled a 22-yarder with :02 left, joins lineman John Hillman to discuss the Oct. 13 win that lifted Ramsey to 4-3. Greg Tartaglia/NorthJersey.com
The quarterback was part of a Maroons rout on Friday, Oct. 13. Jim McConville/Special to NorthJersey.com
Ramapo defeated Paramus, 42-0, in football. Greg Mattura/NorthJersey.com
The quarterback was stout on Saturday, Oct. 14. Jim McConville/Special to NorthJersey.com
Chris Iseman walks 100 yards with Kennedy running back Azmir Ivy. Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com
Center Tyler Patrisso and offensive line pave way for running back Eli Mitchell to rush 42 times for 248 yards, two TD in Sept. 8 NJIC Patriot game. Greg Tartaglia/NorthJersey.com
The Panthers came to Emerson trying to remain undefeated. Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com
Highlights and interviews of the game as St. Joseph came to Oradell to face the Crusaders of Bergen Catholic on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017. Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com
Chris Iseman walks 100 yards with Emerson wide receiver Jared Delpome. Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com
The Record and NorthJersey.com columnist Darren Cooper walks 100 yards with Josh McKenzie of Bergen Catholic, Sept. 26, 2017. Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com
The Record local sports columnist Darren Cooper walks and talks for 100 yards with Henry Pearson of Paramus Catholic football. Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com
Chris Iseman takes this week’s 100 Yard Walk with Old Tappan running back Marquez Antinori.Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com
The Bulldogs beat the Warriors on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 in the first football game in Midland Park since 2005. Sean Farrell/NorthJersey.com
-
Video: ‘100 Yards’ with Austin Albericci of NV/Demarest -
Game of the Week: Hasbrouck Heights vs Rutherford -
Video: ‘100 Yards’ with James Klenk of Hasbrouck Heights -
Video: Game of the Week – Bergen Catholic vs Don Bosco -
Video: ‘100 Yards’ with Bergen Catholic and Don Bosco -
Video: Game of the Week – Manchester vs Rutherford -
Video: Arias talks Garfield win -
Video: ‘100 Yards’ with Billy Finn of Rutherford -
Video: Game of the Week – JFK Paterson vs Clifton -
Video: Bergen Catholic vs. Pope John -
Video: West Milford football participates in annual community program -
Video: Verona H.S. football -
Video: Bergen Catholic coach Nunzio Campanile -
Video: Last-second FG sends Ramsey past Pascack Hills -
Video: Barclay talks Ridgewood win -
Video: Ramapo vs. Paramus football -
Video: Picnic talks New Milford win -
Video: ‘100 Yards’ with Kennedy’s Azmir Ivy -
Video: Wallington runs past Wood-Ridge in 2017 football opener -
Video: Game of the Week – Wallington vs Emerson -
Video: Game of the Week, St. Joseph vs. Bergen Catholic -
Video: ‘100 Yards’ with Jared Delpome of Emerson -
Video: ‘100 Yards’ with Josh McKenzie of Bergen Catholic -
Video: “100 Yards” with Henry Pearson of Paramus Catholic -
Video: “100 Yards” with Old Tappan RB Marquez Antinori -
Video: Rutherford beats Waldwick/Midland Park
Key stat: Dumont scored 43 consecutive points, after trailing 6-0 in the first quarter following an 11-play, 61-yard drive capped by Tenafly senior quarterback Dan Steinberg’s 1-yard TD run. Dumont scored two TDs in each of the next three quarters, with junior quarterback Jake Vietri rushing for one score and passing for three.
“We came out in the first half a little slow, but that’s kind of the story of our season,” Vietri said. “Almost all of our games we did that. At halftime the coaches talk to us, amp us up, and we come out in the second half a different team. And that’s exactly what happened today.”
Plays of the day: Dumont junior receiver Jacob Berrocal made a one-handed catch in the end zone for an 18-yard TD to provide a 22-6 lead with 9:18 left in the third quarter. It came on the first possession of the third and set the tone for the Huskies’ stellar second half. Honorable mention goes to senior Ryan Cocciadiferro, who scored his second TD by breaking a couple of tackles to turn a short completion into a 68-yard TD with 8:05 left in the game.
Quotable: “Tough game today,” said Peter Toale, in his first year as coach at Tenafly (1-9). “I’m just happy that our seniors could be part of kind of the rebuilding here of Tenafly.”