The Alternative Press

MILLBURN, NJ - On Sept. 28, 2012, the Barringer Blue Bears came to Millburn High School to play the Millburn Millers and defeated the previously undefeated Millers 18-6. 

The first quarter began with Millburn’s Alex Schoen (#2) scoring a touchdown after intercepting a Barringer pass, setting the score at 6-0 within the first five minutes of the game. However, the Millers missed the extra point and were unable to pick up any more points the rest of the game.

After a number of false starts by the Blue Bears, they were finally able to pick up a fair amount of yardage and make it all the way down to the Millers' end zone.  However, they were driven back by the Millers. The first quarter ended with Millburn up by 6 points.

After a false start by Millburn in the second quarter and a failure to pick up necessary yards, Barringer took the ball and attempted a touchdown but an incomplete pass kept them from scoring. After a number of incomplete passes and loss of yards by the Millers, Barringer took over on offense. There was an illegal pass interference by Millburn Junior Gabe Greenberg (#5) at the ten yard line but the Millers quickly recovered and stopped a Barringer handoff, bringing the Blue Bears back five yards.

Three false starts by Barringer resulted in them losing 15 yards and an interception at the 21 yard line by Millburn Senior Jake Grzeszczak (#9) brought the Millers to the 35 yard line. Before the game, Grzeszczak had told TheAlternativePress.com, “I am excited to see how our defense will come through against an offense that is as strong as our own,” which rang true because the Blue Bears offense constantly pushed the ball down the field toward the Millers' end zone and the Millers fought assiduously to keep them at bay. The quarter ended with Millburn still leading 6-0.

Mid-third quarter, a kickoff return by Barringer resulted in a touchdown that tied the game. Another kickoff return by Barringer at the 21 yard line almost led to a touchdown by Barringer; however, a penalty flag against Barringer on the play reversed the score.

With two minutes and 52 seconds left in the quarter, Barrington scored again, giving Barringer the 12-6 lead.  Before the end of the quarter, Barringer attempted another touchdown but was flagged at the 26 yard line, hindering the team's progress. The quarter ended with Barringer leading 12-6.

The fourth quarter began with Barringer scoring to make it 18-6. Mid-quarter, Millburn suffered another blow when Junior Brent Abrams (#6) was injured, followed quickly by Senior Mac Novich (#72) getting injured.

The game ultimately ended in a win for Barringer, 18-6, despite Millburn Senior Jake Grzeszczak’s (#9) belief that “If we play with pride and discipline, I am sure the game will end in our favor.”