Wednesday Morning Quarterback: Begen suffers injury as Indians fall to Norsemen
After loss against Demarest, PV plays Ridgefield Park on Saturday afternoon
Starting quarterback Stephen Begen was injured late in the first half of Pascack Valley’s 35-0 home loss to Demarest on Friday night. He left the game with a shoulder injury and did not return. He was on the sidelines in the second half with a wrapped-up shoulder. Coach Len Cusumano said that Begen is “day to day,” but noted that “as always” the team is “getting the next guy ready, if and when they need to play.”
Sophomore Drew Carney also left the game in the fourth quarter with a lower leg injury. He did not return to the game. Cusumano said that Carney is also “day to day.”
The Indians were shutout on Friday for the first time since Oct. 17 2008, when PV fell to Wayne Hills 35-0 in a regular season matchup. In 2008, PV went 9-2, with both losses coming to the Patriots, the second coming in a North 1 Group 3 playoff game. Cusumano noted that the Indians’ offense’s execution rate “was extremely poor,” as they “were not getting off the ball, as effectively as [they] were” last week.
The Demarest offense found ways to score throughout the contest, as they scored 28 points in the first three quarters, and put up another touchdown early in the fourth. Demarest’s dual-threat quarterback Austin Albericci racked up 281 yards passing and threw for two scores, while rushing for another.
Pascack Valley (1-5) plays its next game on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at home against Ridgefield Park (4-3). There will be the fourth annual homecoming barbeque on Saturday before the game begins. Last year, the Indians beat Ridgefield Park 26-0.
