Chatham Cougars Football Raids Mount Olive with 31-6 Victory

There is something to be said for believing in yourself. That is what Chatham High School (N.J.) football head coach Evan Picariello said he preached all week long to his team, getting them to buy into what the Cougars are doing this season.

Well, Picariello‘s pearls of wisdom proved to be wise beyond belief, as Chatham (2-1) routed the 13-ranked Mount Olive (2-1) squad, 31-6, Saturday afternoon at Cougar Field.

“‘This game’s about us. It’s not about them,”‘ Picariello said of what he told his boys during practices this past week. “”(It) doesn’t matter who’s coming in here. You’re only good as your next week.’ (I’m) just super proud of these guys. They believed in each other. Today was our day. They stuck to the game plan, and we won.”

Senior quarterback Will Allen started the scoring off for Chatham with a 97-yard touchdown strike to sophomore Nick Lagunowich for a 7-0 lead with 5:36 remaining in the first quarter.  

“We knew the safety was going to be far back,” Lagunowich said. “He passed it to me, and the rest is history.”

The Marauders answered with a touchdown of their own to draw to within a point at 7-6 with 3:46 left in the first period.

Junior running back Caden Gabriele hit pay dirt on a short run to make it 14-6 with 22.8 to go in the half.

But on the ensuing kickoff, Mount Olive fumbled the ball inside their own five-yard line, as sophomore Ryan Hogan recovered the rock at the three with 15.6 seconds left in the half.

The Cougars settled for a field goal to extend their advantage to 17-6 going into the locker rooms.

On second and seven from Chatham’s 48, senior Alex McWilliams picked up a great block from junior center Jase Catullo, stepped inside toward the middle of field to avoid a defender, and proceeded to bolt for a 52-yard rushing score and 24-6 Cougar lead with 7:52 remaining in the third quarter.

“Up front, all day, the line was getting a really good push,” McWilliams said, as he sang the praise of his O-Line. “The blocks were there; the holes were massive. Run behind them because they were getting it done today.”

Not wanting to be left out of the scoring action, a Marauder pass bounced off one of Chatham defensive back’s hands into the waiting grasp of Gabriele, who returned the pigskin to the house for a TD and a 31-6 commanding advantage with 7:13 to go in the contest.

The win was a total team effort for the Cougars, Picariello noted, with players such as junior Hunter Bigham registering a solid overall game with a sack, a reception, and good overall blocking from the tight end position.

Additionally, Catullo was a beast on both sides of the line, while junior Sonny Arden had an interception, made several tackles, and broke up a pass in the defensive back field.

Catullo said they were able to match the opposition’s lines’ size with Chatham’s own strength, power, and skill, helping them control the line of scrimmage for most of the tilt, and pick up the victory in the process.

“They had a bunch of big dudes,” Catullo said. “We just needed to win this game. We had a job to do, and we did it.”

While the Cougars came out on the losing side of last week’s game against Montville, this time Chatham was able to be the beneficiary of the football bouncing the right way for the Blue and White, Picariello noted.

“They same 50/50 plays last week, we were on the other end of (today),” he explained. “So, obliviously, those are momentum swings, those are game-changing plays. I’m just really proud of our guys. They came out and executed in all three phases (offense, defense, special teams.”

Chatham hosts Livingston next Saturday at 7:00 p.m. during Cougar weekend.

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— Jerry Del Priore