This week’s spotlight game takes us back to the Henry Hoebel Overpeck grass field in Leonia. The kindergarten/first grade division 3-0 Packers squared off against the 2-0-1 Eagles, in what could be a mid-season playoff preview. The game was a back and forth battle all afternoon, with each team answering score-for-score and defensive stop-for-stop. The Eagles struck first with a touchdown run by Eytan Murad, but the Packers responded on the very next possession with a TD and extra point conversion from Judah Last. After trading opening scoring drives, the defenses settled down. Yards were hard to come by as Eagles defenders Murad and James Ladenheim kept the game within one score all afternoon. As he has done all season, Packers nose tackle Marcus Cherny was a force on the line pulling flags. On the other side of the ball, Last propelled the Packers’ offense with a three-touchdown performance. With time running out, Eagles’ running back Leo Goldstein broke one for a TD to cut the deficit to one point. With the game hanging in the balance, and the Eagles marching downfield after regaining possession, Joseph Ash went sideline to sideline for the final game-saving flag pull to secure the Packers’ victory and preserve their undefeated record.
Meanwhile at the state of the art Vince Lombardi Memorial turf field in Palisades Park, the Buccaneers were matched up against the Chiefs in a battle for first place in the sixth grade division. Two stellar defenses were on display and when the first half ended, neither team had cracked the scoreboard. In the second half the Bucs saw an opening and capitalized. Taking the lead on a touchdown pass from QB Betzalel Fried to WR Yoni Levy. The game was iced with a pick 6 from Reuven Zelig. Player of the game nod went to Chief’s Yehuda Finkelstein with timely blitzes, many key pulls and consistent defensive pressure throughout the game. The win placed the Buccaneers alone in first place with the Chiefs and Giants (who they will face next week) a mere game behind.
The play of the week goes to the 4th/5th grade Giants. Quarterback Jack Weiss saw an opening to Eitan Margulies in the endzone. Weiss spiraled the ball perfectly above the outstretched arms of the Eagles defender, into the waiting hands of a leaping Margulies, who managed to collect the ball in perfect stride and keep control of it as he hit the turf. Stay tuned for more excitement next week at Overpeck Park.
By BCFL Coaches
