New Providence ‘D’ sets stifling tone and even scores points in shutout vs. Metuchen

With the way the New Providence offense fed off the momentum of its defense after a potentially damaging first-half miscue, head coach Chet Parlavecchio Jr. may want to reconsider his most impassioned post-game directive.

He loved the team's energy, its intent and unity, but he wasn't so thrilled about the Pioneers' fumble at their own 30-yard line four minutes into a scoreless game.

"We've got to clean up that kind of stuff," he said.

Do they?

Behind the clutch, rugged play of lineman Jameson Moore and and linebackers Mike Petses, Dan Porretti and Gui May, the Pioneers not only held their ground, but pushed Metuchen back three yards from its starting point to force a punt.

That fine work enlivened the offense, which drove 80 yards and 13 plays to take a lead that grew in the second half behind even more stout defensive play for a 22-0 victory in a Big Central Conference-Patriot Silver Division battle Thursday night at Lieder Field in New Providence.

"We rely a lot on momentum. Usually when we get a stop on D, we're able to go down and score on offense," senior quarterback T.J. Munn said. "We always use that to our advantage."

In the second half, New Providence (3-1) took further advantage of the fabulous punting of Porretti, which set the stage for a third-quarter safety, and an interception by Petses that launched a three-play, 13-yard scoring drive later in the half.

"Defensively for us, we just played a really good game. We were running and we were tackling; we were really in a zone tonight," Parlavecchio said.

That defense limited Metuchen (3-1) to 92 offensive yards (just 29 rushing) to help the Pioneers rebound from a 28-24 loss last week to Johnson. Turnovers and other mistakes did prove fatal in that encounter.

But here the defense was so thorough, it even provided points.

"Defense came up with two points of their own, and you could make an argument that they got nine with the field position off the safety and the special teams return," he said.

This wasn't just about a stifling defense, though, as bruising junior running back A.J. Whitehead carried 22 ties for 130 yards, and Munn ran for 53 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries and he was an efficient 5-of-7 passing for 57 yards and one TD, a 33-yard pass to senior Owen Silver for a 15-0 lead with 5:32 to go in the third quarter.

"We had a lot of mental mistakes last week. This week was still a little sloppy, but we found a way to get it done," Munn said. "A win is a win.

"But the defense really stepped up today and we were able to rely on that."

The fun in the second half for New Providence began after Porretti boomed a 50-yard punt that was downed at the one-yard line with 6:44 to go in the third quarter.

Metuchen was penalized a half-yard, threw incomplete and then a run play was stopped dead in the end zone by Petses, with help from end James Keneally to give the Pioneers a 7-0 lead with 6:30 to go in the period.

Porretti returned Metuchen's free kick to the Bulldog 33, and New Providence struck on the second play to grab a 15-0 lead. After a first-down run went for no gain, Munn hit Silver along the left flank at the 27. He shook off a tackler at the spot of the catch, turned and sprinted into the end zone.

The Pioneers found themselves stuck deep in their own territory on their following possession, but Porretti bailed his team out with a 48-yard punt to the Metuchen 39.

Three plays later, Peteses made his pick at the Metuchen 45 and returned it 32 yards to the 13. Senior Gianni Carreno swept off right end for nine yards to extend the lead to 22-0 with 8:29 left in the game.

"We've got to clean some things up. I feel like if our offense can just clean up a few mistakes, with our defense I think we've really got something," Parlavecchio said.

"But defense and special teams ate two-thirds of the game, right? I'm never going to apologize for winning those," he said.