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Molly Heintze

Head coach Len Cusumano leads his team onto the field prior to their first home game of the season.

Pascack Valley coach Len Cusumano expressed disappointment with how Pascack Valley could not seem to stop the Old Tappan offense during its 42-6 loss on Saturday: “Defensively, we just did not tackle very well,” he said. “We weren’t in position a couple times to make a couple plays there in the first half.”

The PV defense had trouble limiting the ground and aerial attack of Old Tappan, and Valley missed key tackles that led to scores for the Golden Knights.

PV also struggled offensively throughout the game and were stymied by the Old Tappan defense time and again. PV turned the ball over twice on two interceptions by quarterback Stephen Begen and the offense could not seem to generate explosive plays, as they had just three that exceeded 15 yards.

Two memorable plays came on the last play of the first half and the opening play of the second half. Pascack Valley gave up a 50 yard touchdown on the final play of the second quarter, as Aidan Bilali caught a screen pass, broke a tackle, and zig zagged his way past PV defenders towards the end zone. Then, OT, who started the second half on the 25 yard line handed the ball to running back Marquez Antinori, who went untouched for a 75 yard score on the first play from scrimmage. These two plays summed up the day for PV, which suffered its most lopsided loss since a 42-3 setback against St. Joseph Regional on Oct. 30, 2011.

In the second half when the game was clearly out of reach for PV, both teams brought in many of their backup players. This gave some younger players who lack experience a chance at the varsity level, and also it kept the starters healthier and fresher for the games to come. These players actually did a fine job, as they held Old Tappan to just a single touchdown and they actually scored one of their own. Backup QB Sam Cassidy snuck into the end zone in the final minute on a 4th-and-goal from the 2 yard line. This scoring opportunity was set up by a 33-yard completion to Andrew Ewing earlier on the drive.

Pascack Valley is banged up a bit going into its upcoming game against Nutley. While Cusumano said that there are a few players dealing with injuries, he declined comment on exactly who they were, and how long they may be sidelined. He did say, however, that it is important for the next man on the depth chart to step up and fill in for whoever is unable to play.

Pascack Valley will play its next game on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Nutley at home. Both teams will be looking for their first wins of the year.