Record 9/25: Ridgewood Preserves 1-point Edge vs. Teaneck

As reported in Sunday's Record, the Teaneck Highwaymen fell just short to Ridgewood at home Saturday night, falling by a score of 21-20. See the Sports section of Sunday's Record or click on http://tinyurl.com/93zow for the item at the Record's http://www.Bergen.com web site (registration required).

Ridgewood preserves 1-point edge Sunday, September 25, 2005 By DAN ROSEN STAFF WRITER

TEANECK - Late in the fourth quarter, its lead trimmed to one point and with Teaneck driving across midfield, it was clear Ridgewood needed a big play.

Junior outside linebacker Dan Lenihan was ready to play hero.

"We've practiced it since double sessions in the summer," Lenihan said. "We need to be tough at the end of the game."

No one was tougher than Lenihan on the two plays that mattered most. Because of his pressure in Teaneck's backfield, Ridgewood escaped with a 21-20 victory Saturday night. The Maroons, ranked 15th in The Record's Top 25, are now 2-1 despite missing five senior starters - they have only 13 seniors on the roster - because of injury Saturday night.

"What a win for these kids," Ridgewood coach Chuck Johnson said. "How many teams can lose almost half of their seniors and still beat a team like this?"

It's likely Teaneck junior quarterback Travis Warren won't forget Ridgewood's No. 56 any time soon.

On second-and-15 from Ridgewood's 35-yard line, Lenihan broke through and dropped Warren for a 5-yard loss with 1:38 left. The next play, he again got pressure on Warren, forcing him to throw a pass short of his receiver that was intercepted by senior A.J. Torre, ending the drive and Teaneck's hopes.

"It's make a play there, and he's the guy that epitomizes the defensive player you want to have," Johnson said of Lenihan, who is 6 feet 2 and 215 pounds. "He's athletic and he's smart. He can be a tremendous football player."

The methodical offensive game, which Ridgewood led, 21-14, at halftime, turned into a battle of field position in the second half. The half was scoreless until Teaneck (0-2) scored with 3:54 to play in the game as sophomore tailback Rashad White (137 rushing yards) ended a 16-play, 82-yard drive with a 7-yard cutback run for a touchdown.

However, Teaneck then realized the burden of special teams. The snap for the extra-point attempt never got into the air. It trickled along the ground, Ridgewood fell on the ball and its one-point lead was intact.

"I don't know what happened," Teaneck coach Dennis Heck said. "The ball slipped or it stuck. You see it happen in the NFL all the time. We kick them like they're nothing in practice, but we get into a game and we don't."

Teaneck appeared to steal the momentum with a game-tying touchdown pass from Warren to senior fullback Jerome Brigham (five catches, 76 yards) just 1:41 before halftime. However, after letting the Highwaymen march 58 yards for the score, Ridgewood gained it right back as senior Michael Nunn returned the kickoff 59 yards to the Teaneck 29.

One play later, sophomore quarterback Greg Johnson sailed a fade pass to junior Brian Albano for a touchdown.

E-mail: rosend@northjersey.com Copyright © 2005 North Jersey Media Group Inc.

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