On Friday, Verona’s football captains, Zach Garmont, Shane Costigan, and Kieran Patel walked out onto the blue turf of the Butler field. The team had labored tirelessly since June for the chance to make it to the playoffs, something they were denied last year. As the team took the field for the last time in what would end as a 47-21 loss, the players of the future at the high school and collegiate level distinguished themselves as never before.
#2 Kieran Patel kicked off the game with a touchback, starting the Butler Bulldogs at the 20. Butler relied on running down the middle, although #52 Shane Costigan, #13 Salvatore Santos-DiTrani, and #44 Bodie Maisano managed tackles to slow their progress. However, when Butler was at the 30, their running back Kyle Perry managed to break free for a 50-yard rush. A few plays later Perry ran it in for a Butler touchdown, 7-0. Lining up for the return was Verona’s #11 Jesse Wagner, who ran the ball to the 35-yard line before being tackled. Despite this, three unfruitful throws followed, and Patel punted to the Bulldog 32-yard line. A sequence of well-coordinated Butler rushes brought about a touchdown, 14-0, and the ball was kicked back to Wagner, who got Verona field position at their 45-yard line. Rushes by Maisano were unsuccessful due to a considerable size disparity between Butler’s defensive and Verona’s offensive line. As a result of this, and an incomplete pass Patel punted the ball to the 27-yard line. A rush by Butler’s quarterback got the ball just past the 50 as time expired in the first quarter.
At the start of the second quarter, a dropped flea flicker saved Verona from losing an immediate touchdown. The drive slowly progressed, as #81 John-Paul Alfano and Garmont made tackles that slowed Butler’s advance. However, after a long drive, the Bulldogs scored another touchdown, 21-0. Starting at the 34-yard line, Verona was unable to pick up momentum, and Patel punted the ball back to the Butler 43. More tackles by Santos-DiTrani and Wagner delayed a touchdown, but could not prevent a score by Perry, bringing the score to 28-0. After a catch and return by #33 Tristan Newman, Verona started at the 38-yard line. In spite of this starting point, a tipped pass and a dropped ball necessitated another punt by Patel, who punted it to the 19-yard line. However, the very next play was an 81-yard rush by Perry, who got to the outside and outpaced Verona’s defense to the endzone. After a failed extra point the score became 34-0. Starting out at the 15, a 15-yard rush by Maisano finally got Verona their first significant rushing progress of the night. Two plays later, Garmont caught a 70-yard pass, breaking tackles and outrunning the Bulldog’s defense, scoring Verona’s first points. On the kickoff, Butler managed to beat Verona’s kickoff, and PJ Coffey gave them another touchdown. Watching from the sidelines, Garmont came out on kick return and broke a total of five tackles, rolling into the endzone. These developments amounted to a score of 40-14. After a kickoff to the 35, Verona made many tackles, particularly by Costigan and Santos-DiTrani. However, Butler managed to score with only 17 seconds remaining in the half. Verona was unable to respond in such a short time span, and the second quarter closed with a score of 47-14.
The second half began with the clock running nearly constantly, shortening the length of the quarters due to the disparity in score. Nevertheless, Verona continued to give 100% effort. At the start of the third quarter, Garmont ran the ball out to the 37-yard line. Even with an initially successful rush by Garmont, the offense failed to convert a first down and on fourth down punted to the 13-yard line. Although Butler drove down to Verona’s 40-yard line, #27 Daniel Kozachuk, #22 Dean Algieri, and Alfano made tackles that forced the first Butler punt of the game. As the ball bounced into the endzone, the third quarter came to a close.
The fourth quarter began with a succession of passes to Garmont, including a 35-yard pass across midfield. A few rushes and passes to Maisano were attempted, but led to limited progress. After a few more outside passes to Garmont, he caught a 25-yard pass in double coverage that brought Verona within 5 yards of the endzone. After three failed attempts to score, Maisano caught a pass from #10 Connor DeMasi to score a touchdown. An extra point by Patel brought the score to 47-21. Butler’s potential response was thwarted by tackles from Algieri and Maisano, and they had to punt. On the final drive of the night, Verona moved the ball, mainly with tosses to Garmont as they slowly marched upfield. Verona got within 15 yards of a touchdown as time expired.
The game was a loss for Verona, but the team knew that was a possibility when facing the #1 seed in the playoffs. However, some of Verona’s players did distinguish themselves as possible faces in the future of national-level football. Zach Garmont not only broke Anthony Fasano’s school record for single-season receptions this game but also is ranked #14 in the country in receiving yards by MaxPreps (a division of CBS sports that covers high school sports) as of the time of writing. Bodie Maisano is not only 39 tackles ahead of his closest New Jersey competitor in tackles, but ranked #6 in the nation in tackles according to MaxPreps. Maisano, who played varsity last season as a freshman and this season as a sophomore, will become a year older and more experienced as an upperclassman. Verona has a group of receivers ready to take the place of Garmont, including Jesse Wagner, Gianluca Checchetto, and Dean Algieri.
When asked for comment about the game and preparation for next season, Algieri responded, “The game showed our weaknesses that we need to focus on for next year like getting stronger in the weight room. It’s on all of us now to have accountability. If we want to be great, we need to put in the work.”
With these words Verona’s objectives become crystal clear, to train as hard as they need to to become the best version of themselves. Verona promises to come back next season even better than this record-breaking year and shock the New Jersey football world.
Photos copyright Mike Perry. Used by permission.
