By JR Parachini on CLARK, CRANFORD, ELIZABETH, HILLSIDE, KENILWORTH, LINDEN, MOUNTAINSIDE, RAHWAY, ROSELLE, ROSELLE PARK, SPORTS, SPRINGFIELD, SUMMIT, UNION
Cranford, Summit continue their winning ways
There were plenty of team achievements – for the first time in a long time – concerning Union County football in 2014. Here are a few: *Linden won its first home playoff game in 29 years, then won another home playoff game, then reached its first state championship game in 29 years and […]
By JR Parachini on ROSELLE PARK, SPORTS
Shaw set the state at first singles, improving dramatically
The Roselle Park girls’ tennis team turned in another fine season in 2014, fashioning a winning record of 11-9. The Panthers also posted a winning record in the Mountain Division of the Union County Conference, going 6-4 in league matches. Head coach Nancy Sturcke will be back next year for her 39th season at the […]
By JR Parachini on ELIZABETH, LINDEN, SPORTS
Dolbrice scores game-winning TD on kickoff return late in fourth quarter and then seals victory with interception in end zone
EAST RUTHERFORD – Juwan Dolbrice never returned a kickoff for a touchdown this season. He picked the absolute best time to do it – with just over two minutes left in the season and his scholastic football career. Picking up the ball at his own 25, Dolbrice found a hole up the middle and then […]
By JR Parachini on CRANFORD, SPORTS
EAST RUTHERFORD – Behind the running of incredibly shifty diminutive senior tailback Angelo Gallego, the poise of freshman braces-wearing quarterback Nick Verducci and two big first-half plays by senior two-way standout Ryan Shaw, third-seeded Parsippany Hills went on to capture its first state championship ever by holding off top-seeded and undefeated Cranford 20-13 in Sunday’s […]
By JR Parachini on MOUNTAINSIDE, SPORTS
BERKELEY HEIGHTS – One of these years it’s going to work out for the Highlanders. It almost did last year. You see, the Governor Livingston baseball team has pretty much won every title under the sun – including Highlander Classic, division, section and state – except for one. One of these years the Highlanders will […]
By JR Parachini on CRANFORD, ELIZABETH, LINDEN, SPORTS
On Dec. 7 in East Rutherford it will be - in N2, G3 - Parsippany Hills vs. Summit, followed by - in N2, G5 - Elizabeth vs. Linden
Just think, instead of the Giants or Jets playing at MetLife Stadium this Sunday at 1 p.m. it will be the Cranford Cougars. Make that the – 11-0 for the first time in program history – Cranford Cougars! Wow, that’s how far that program has come. Not even the highly-successful Cranford baseball team has played at […]
By JR Parachini on CRANFORD, LINDEN, SPORTS
Both contests to kick off Dec. 7 in East Rutherford
For the first time, the Linden and Cranford football teams will be playing for a state championship in East Rutherford. Both Union County Mid-State 38 Conference division winners advanced to sectional finals – for Linden the first time since 1985 and only third time total – and for Cranford the first time since 2011 and […]
By JR Parachini on ROSELLE, SPORTS
Mountain Division champion Rams will close season at Roselle Park on Thanksgiving
ROSELLE – While the home team was just 24 minutes away from playing in a state championship game for the first time in 24 years, it was the visiting team that seized the opportunity to compete for a ring. Down by five points at intermission, which was the same deficit it lost by when the […]
By JR Parachini on CRANFORD, LINDEN, SPORTS
Phipps, Dolbrice score TDs in second quarter
LINDEN – With playmakers such as Kyle Phipps and Juwan Dolbrice, Linden can score from anywhere on the field at any time. Sometimes it’s all that’s needed. In a weird way it was Friday night at Cooper Field. Led by touchdown runs of 58 yards by Phipps and 41 by Dolbrice in the second quarter, […]
By JR Parachini on CRANFORD, ELIZABETH, LINDEN, ROSELLE, SPORTS, SUMMIT
Seniors Dolbrice, Zanelli become their school's all-time leading rusher
For the first time in awhile, four Union County football teams are one home win away from playing for championships. Those schools will be Linden and Cranford on Nov. 21 and Summit and Roselle on Nov. 22. All total, six Union County teams are still alive and playing in sectional semifinals, including Westfield on Nov. […]