Wolfpack 'Focused' Heading Into Football Sectional Semifinal

They’ve been here before. In fact, it seems like they’re here all the time.

But this one is different. This one is personal, and it’s one more step toward making history.

West Morris Central won its seventh state sectional title in 2012 with a romping of Passaic Valley at Rutgers University. It was their fourth championship in 11 years.

Never has the team won back-to-back titles, though.

On Friday, the Wolfpack will host its sister school and rival Mendham Minutemen in the NJSIAA North 2, Group 4 semifinal round. The winner goes on to face either top-seed Phillipsburg or No. 5 seed Iselin Kennedy for the sectional crown.

“They’re focused,” Wolfpack head coach Kevin Hennelly said. “They’re practicing well and acting like they’ve been here before. Last year was great, now it’s just a memory.”

Central worked its way to six wins during the regular season, one of them against Mendham in early October. Falling behind early in that game, the Wolfpack worked its way back with its ground-and-pound running game to secure a 28-21 win in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

Things have changed since then, however, and Hennelly knows it.

“(Mendham) is a good team,” he said. “They’ve gotten better. I think both teams have improved. No doubt this game goes down to the fourth quarter.”

Central took care of its first round opponent, Morristown, with a 14-7 overtime win last Friday. The win was even sweeter after the team lost to its county rival earlier in the season by a heartbreaking score of 3-0.

“They’re feeling good after the win,” Hennelly said. “It was a super physical game, though, and we’re trying to get everyone healthy for this week.”

Hennelly recognized Mendham’s recent hot streak – winners of four of their last five games – and knows his squad has a tall task.

“They way they’ve been playing lately… we’re not shutting them down,” he said. “We need to keep everything in front of us. I know they’re going to make us work for it.”

Hennelly’s counterpart on the opposite sideline knows the challenge goes both ways.

“We’ll have difficulty slowing them down,” Mendham head coach Bill Carpluk said. “We need to play better defense (than the first matchup) and win the field position battle.”

For Central’s seniors, who played an important supporting role in last year’s title run, now is their time to shine. As freshman, the group put together just one win against eight losses, and have come a long way in three seasons.

“The coaching staff is proud of the entire team, especially the senior group,” Hennelly said. “They struggled when they were younger, but have put themselves in a position to play well.”

Backed by experience and home field advantage Friday night, Central has four quarters standing between it and a shot at school history.

“This is their opportunity now,” Hennelly said. “This is what they’ve worked for.”