By Ethan Andrzejewski ’13, Staff Writer

In recent years, Newark Academy football has been the athletic department’s Achilles heel. The team has been plagued by low numbers and tough losses, always showing exemplary effort, but rarely succeeding in the postseason.  A new coaching staff and a number of youthful additions has changed all that and redefined the program in 2010. The squad boasts a strong nucleus of players, including seniors Jack Lawler, Jordan Jett, Jason Diamond, Zach Shinske, Thelonious Lester, and Hardy Evans, as well as juniors Zach Drobner, Steven Catena, Nick Rinaldi, and Sean Mulligan.

The Minutemen currently stand at 3-4, with blowout victories against Dwight Englewood and Sussex Tech and a grinder against Immaculate. The team’s improved skill on both sides of the ball was on full display in the first two of their three victories, as the squad held opponents to a staggering six points while managing to punch in 84 of their own.  While these examples stand as  stat-boosting wins, the team’s most recent triumph truly defined the nature of this rebuilt program.

As a mere two minutes remained in regulation against Immaculate Conception on October 10^th, their opponents scored a touchdown to pull ahead 13-6. With little time to work with, NA returned the kick-off to their own 39-yard line, ultimately setting up a touchdown by Steven Catena ’12 that sent the game into overtime. Twice the Newark Academy defense held the opposing unit scoreless, returning the ball to the hands of the offense. In double overtime,  quarterback Jack Lawler ’11 and company advanced the ball just enough to allow kicker Adam Seltzer ’11 to hit a 26-yard game-winning field goal. Fans cried in excitement as the team turned what looked like a sure defeat into a major confidence boost.

Seltzer’s game-winning field goal strengthened the team’s hopes for the state playoffs, as the team now needs just one more win for an automatic bid.  Unfortunately NA fell just short of spoiling rival Montclair Kimberley’s homecoming game and locking up a postseason berth, and in the team’s highly anticipated game against Cedar Grove, the squad struggled to find its groove. Linebacker Alex Mederos ’13 found a positive in the loss against MKA, stating “we will use this as motivation to come out in our last two games with more fire. Nobody likes to get beaten, but we have the kind of team that can really turn things around quickly.”  That is exactly what they will have to do in the team’s final two contests against Verona and Glen Ridge.

As expected in a rough-and-tumble game like football, the Minuteman have  suffered some vital injuries this season, including injuries to juniors Zaire Williams and Brandon Rothman, and sophomore Nick Lawler. The three were predicted to be some of the most talented players on the both sides of the ball, leaving the coaching staff to scramble with holes in the lineup.

The Minuteman football team’s success this season will set the bar high for years to come. The future of the program appears to be bright as sophomores Troy Sutton, Alex Mederos, Robert Kwiatkowski, and Salem Najjar, along with freshmen Tyler Park and Matt Ratner, have all seen plenty of playing time.  Everyone involved with this team insist that 2010 will not just be an exception, but will soon become an expectation for future seasons.