The Roselle Park junior varsity football team will host Bergen County Tech tonight (Sept. 28) at 7 at Herm Shaw Field, with senior Patrick Gergich to be the starting quarterback for the Panthers.
Roselle Park’s JV team is 3-0, with wins at Wood-Ridge and home against Hillside and Johnson.
According to Roselle Park head coach Terry Hanratty, Gergich played sparingly against Hillside and Johnson.
“Just a few plays, that was all,” Hanratty said.
Gergich will see a lot more action in tonight’s contest, which will be treated like a varsity game. The event will include the Roselle Park band, cheeleaders and the PAL youngsters, who will be introduced.
Gergich will also get another opportunity to play a full game on Oct. 12 when Roselle Park will host Highland Park.
Roselle Park made the decision in June to play junior varsity and freshman only, while Highland Park dropped varsity after one varsity game. Both were due to lack of numbers.
“When Highland Park decided to go JV only we were able to get a date with them,” Hanratty said. “That will be our Seniors Night.”
The numbers have gone up for Roselle Park since the beginning of practice.
“We had 16 kids the first day to 34 right now,” Hanratty said. “Things are really working out.”