High School Football:
Minutemen End Overbrook's Win Streak

Saturday, October 2, 1999

By Gary Steiner
SJSports Staff Writer

Thw Washington Township Minutemen visited Pine Hill to face the Group IV Champion Overbrook Rams. The Rams were carrying a 15 game winning streak, with their last loss coming in a tough overtime game at Camden High on Nov. 15, 1997. The Minutemen were ready for an upset, and would survive a defensive struggle with a 7-6 win to end the Ram's streak.

Neither team would generate much offense in the first quarter. It wasn't until towards the end of the quarter when Chris Taylor intercepted a pass to give the Rams a 1st and 10 at their own 41-yard line. Overbrook quarterback Charlie Bupp teamed up with Jerron Smith and Jason Carr to run and pass their way down the field. The drive ended with an 8 yard pass to Bryan Foster for the touchdown with 9:24 left in the half. The PAT was tipped, leaving the score at 6-0.

The Rams had another scoring opportunity in the 2nd quarter when they drove down to the Township 18-yard line, but were held on a 4th and 4. The half ended with the score still 6-0.

The Minutemen were finally able to get some offense going on their second possession of the 3rd quarter. Starting from their own 24-yard line, the drive was helped along with a 21-yard run by Mike Lotierzo, and a 26-yard pass to Rob Egan. The Minutemen scored on a 4-yard run by Joe Calacuira. The PAT by Jim Lawson was good to put Township up 7-6 with 3:49 left in the 3rd quarter.

At the beginning of the 4th quarter, the Minutemen got some excellent field position off of a bad punt by the Rams at the Overbrook 37-yard line. With a 4th and goal at the 8-yard line, Township attempted a reverse but were stopped in the backfield by a key tackle from the Rams' Dan Boguszewski.

The Rams had one last chance to win it when they got the ball at their own 10-yard line with 2:02 left on the clock.They used their passing attack to drive down to the Township 22-yard line, but were held on a 4th and 10 with 46 seconds left. The Minutemen ran out the clock to end both the game and Overbrook's win streak.

Photos by Art Redd