Pascack Valley football has started the season 3-0 for the first time in five years. The last time they started with three straight wins? 2015. The Indians were just coming off of a 2014 season in which they won the North 1, Group 4 State Championship. Following that success, the Indians started the 2015 season 5-0.

Valley aims to continue its winning ways against Demarest this Saturday at homecoming.

Although the team looks to start 4-0, Coach Len Cusumano doesn’t think of it that way.

“Our goal is the same as it always is, and that is to go 1-0 every week,” Cusumano said.

Valley aims to do that this week, and they will need to go through a Demarest team that is looking for their fourth straight playoff berth, and has a 2-1 record this year. Their wins came against Lincoln and Pascack Hills, and their sole loss came against an undefeated River Dell team.

Demarest had a similar 2018 season to Pascack Valley. Both teams lost in the first round of the North 1, Group 3 playoffs, however Demarest finished the season with a 4-6 record, having one more win than the Indians. An injury-plagued season for Demarest resulted in many underclassmen getting opportunities and playing time they wouldn’t have otherwise received. With those same players returning this year, Demarest aims to use that experience to make another run at the playoffs.

The Demarest offense is led by sophomore Andrew Argenziano at quarterback. Argenziano has completed 69.8% of his passes for 478 yards and 2 touchdowns, to go along with three interceptions in the Norsemen’s first three contests. The rushing attack is spearheaded by senior Ben Marinaccio, who has averaged 7.2 yards per carry and 129.3 yards per game, to go along with 5 touchdowns this season. Senior Jack Motolla has played a key part in the Norsemen’s success on both sides of the ball. This season, he has 7 receptions for 100 yards to go along with a receiving touchdown. On the defensive side of the ball, he has 31 total tackles and 5 tackles for a loss. Motolla is looking to continue his defensive success from last year, a season which he finished with 104 total tackles.

Motolla and the defense had been dominant in their first two games, allowing only 13 total points, including a shutout against Pascack Hills. That defense will clash with Valley’s offense, which has scored 27, 42, and 38 points in its first three games. The source of the Indians’ offensive success has been its offensive line.

“[The offensive line has] been consistent,” Cusumano said. “[They’ve been] doing what they’ve been coached to do since all the way back in June.”

Valley’s high-powered offense led by senior quarterback Stephen Begen and senior running back Jake Williams shows no signs of slowing down. Begen has completed 70% of his passes for 440 yards and 2 touchdowns through the Indians’ first three games, while Williams has averaged 7.5 yards per carry and 109.7 yards per game, along with 7 touchdowns.

Last time these two teams clashed was last season, a game in which PV defeated Demarest 44-7 on the Norsemen’s home field. The offensive star of that game was Williams, as he ran for 193 yards and 3 touchdowns.

How Valley’s prolific offense can move the ball against Demarest’s assertive defense will certainly determine if the Indians can continue their winning ways on Saturday.

“We just have to keep playing good football,” Cusumano said.