The Eye of the Barron Stares at Success

By Josh Cohen
9/10/04

Woodbridge -- Intensity leads to passion, passion leads to confidence, and confidence leads to success. 
       A football team must take the field with one goal in mind - and no, that goal is not to win a championship, impress cheerleaders, or score with hot babes on Saturday nights.  The goal, ultimately, is to accomplish success - success by means of heart and determination. 
       The key to success is effort, enjoyment, and resilience - and while emphasizing these qualities may be redundant - they are essential. 
       The Woodbridge Barrons, led by head coach Brian Russo, defeated the South Brunswick Vikings 18-12 on Friday night by accentuating fortitude and buoyancy. 
       A sack by Rick Mozolic with less than seven minutes remaining in the game, and another by Shamar Graves with less than a minute remaining sealed the victory for Woodbridge, who did not capitulate in the final quarter.
       "Coach told us to keep working hard," Graves said after the game.  "It's a four quarter game, not two, and we needed to increase our intensity in those final minutes."
       Leading 18-0 at halftime, the Barrons controlled the first half.  On the first drive of the game, quarterback Joe Skibar, who completed six-of-13 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown, scampered for 23 yards to set up a four yard TD run by Stefan Alexander. 
       "I wasn't supposed to start today, but coach gave me a chance," Skibar said.  "I tried working hard all summer to prove something, and I feel I did.  I hope I can continue to be a leader."
       Skibar, who also rushed for 48 yards on five carries, found the end zone on a well-designed eight yard bootleg TD run early in the second quarter to extend the Barrons lead to 12-0. 
       Sophomore running back Garrett Mozolic, who compiled 80 yards rushing, scooted for a 26-yard run late in the half - setting up a 67 yard TD reception by Graves to increase the lead by 18. 
       "It was third down, and I knew Shamar was the guy to make the big play," Skibar said.  "I just threw it over the middle, and Shamar came through as usual."
       The third quarter, however, accentuated Viking speed and strength.  Running back Vince Davidson, who rushed for an extraordinary 178 yards on 24 attempts, fastened his seatbelt to get South Brunswick back in the game. 
       An impressive 71-yard TD run with a minute shaved off the clock in the third, followed by a dauntless four-yard TD run by Davidson changed the complexion of the game. 
       "We have suffered a lot of injuries, as we had to hang on for dear life," coach Russo said.  "They came out strong in that third quarter, but my guys came up huge on defense in the fourth.  It was sloppy, and we have a lot to work on for next week."
       The Vikings had several opportunities in the fourth to tie the game, but the Barron defense, led by Matt Barringer's five fourth quarter tackles, halted the Brunswick comeback. 
       An interception by cornerback Jarren Smith with 32 seconds remaining allowed Skibar and the rest of the offense to take a knee, and run out the clock.
       "I am proud of these guys, and how they kept going strong," Russo said.  "We will have to play a perfect game against Piscataway next week, but we can do it if we put the effort in."