Fenton edges Elmwood Park

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By all accounts, the Elmwood Park football team should have won its first game of the season Friday night against Fenton.

The Tigers (0-6) dominated the Bison (4-2) in just about every key category on the field.

They out gained them on the ground (143 yards to 111), through the air (133 yards to 80), in first downs (18-12) and in time of possession (28:47-19:13). The only place Elmwood Park didn’t top Fenton was the only one that mattered – on the scoreboard.

Elmwood Park fell 21-18 in a thrilling game before a packed homecoming crowd at Tiger Stadium. Had it not been for one breakdown on special teams and a couple ofminor mistakes, the result could easily have been different.

“We were in it the whole game and before it started we challenged the kids to fight tonight and that when they got down in the ready position to be prepared to fight on every play,” Tigers head coach Luis Arroyo said. “I think we did that and I couldn’t be more proud of their effort.”

The Tigers opened the scoring in the second quarter on an impressive 18-play, 73 yard drive. Mark Marzillo capped it with a 3-yard touchdown run with 9 minutes, 52 seconds to go in the period. The extra-point try was blocked, however, and that would play a big role in the outcome.

The lead was short-lived as Fenton’s Mitch Ewert returned the ensuing kickoff 74 yards for a score. The extra point gave the Bison a 7-6 lead just 12 seconds later.

“That one breakdown really hurt, but after the kickoff return the players didn’t even bat an eye and kept coming back,” Arroyo said. “We could have been done, but all the kids played down to the final whistle.”

Fenton took a 14-6 lead into halftime after a 2-yard touchdown dive by Bison quarterback Ricky Prignano.

But Elmwood Park wasn’t about to give up and came out strong in the third quarter on its first possession.

This time a 15-play, 73-yard drive was capped by a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Elmwood Park’s Alejandro Castaneda. A failed two-point conversion try made the score 14-12 with 7:39 to play in the third and that was the score as the quarter ended.

A drive that started for Fenton in the third period was completed on the first play of the fourth, however, as Prignano ran for another 2-yard score. With the Bison ahead 21-12, Elmwood Park struck back quickly on a 40-yard touchdown pass from EP quarterback Chris Santelli to Derek Vidana, and the Tigers moved closer at 21-18 with 7:18 to play.

The Elmwood Park defense stood tough, but the offense was thwarted in part by a key holding penalty after moving downfield the last time it had the ball. Fenton took over on downs and killed the clock for the victory.

“We thought we could compete with Fenton after seeing them play Riverside-Brookfield tough and I think we proved it in this game,” Arroyo said. “I’m very, very proud of the way everyone performed and I can’t say enough about the way we played.”

Castaneda led Elmwood Park unofficially with 65 yards rushing on 15 carries and a touchdown. Marzillo added 63 yards on 22 carries and also scored once. Vidana had two catches for 57 yards and a touchdown.