Now comes the real test for Pompton Lakes

Pompton Lakes dealt their second straight shut out Saturday afternoon with a 49-0 triumph over Saddle Brook. They scored early and often on the Falcons who this year are not your typical Saddle Brook team. Still Pompton did what they needed to do and for their efforts, they get to play Paterson Catholic next Saturday at home. Not that playing at home matters because last year PC dropped a 41-0 drubbing on them in a game where the Cougars were calling trick plays in the game’s last minute.
Though no one will say it for the record, you know this proud group of Pompton Lakes football players would like to avenge that loss and the way it happened. No one on this current team has ever beaten Paterson Catholic; even in the championship year of 2005, they were the only blemish on their record.
How do you assess their chances? Each team played and beat Lodi; Pompton did it in the season opener 10-7 while PC beat the Rams this Saturday 34-27. From a style of play, the Cardinals are similar to Lodi. Run the ball and go after it on defense, a blue-collar approach that works well against most teams in the BPSL. Problem is Paterson Catholic has outstanding speed in addition to size and strength so it makes for tough match ups. Glen Rock was able to deal PC their first league loss in 50-odd games last month because they were able to match them in the speed department. Can the Cardinals do that? Probably not, their roster has some speed but not up and down the lines of scrimmage. So they will have to figure out a way to use their power and aggressiveness to control the point of attack on both sides of the ball. They will need and expect big games from Tommy Duncan and Alan Ren in the middle of the defensive line while the linebackers need to be ready to step up and make the plays when needed. They also will have to be able to control PC’s passing game that is also capable of producing big plays. On offense they will need to run the ball and control the clock, keeping the Cougar offense on the sideline. They will also need to avoid making mistakes, as PC doesn’t need any help.
One thing going for Pompton Lakes is that PC now knows it can be beaten in a league game; the bubble of invincibility has been burst. Another is the game PC just played against Lodi. The Cardinals were able to stop the Lodi offense, holding them to just seven points whereas they scored 27 in their loss to the Cougars. That could be a coaching mechanism to help instill some confidence into them, though they hardly need it. They want that game, the challenge that comes with it, and are ready to prove that they can play and compete with them. It’s not a back-breaker if they drop the game but if they pull it off it will be a season defining win making a loud statement to all the other contenders for the North 1 Group 1 title.