Raider Fans

Amid the grayness of one of the shortest days of the year, there was a bright glow to the Scotch Plains Fanwood High School parking lot
in the late afternoon on the Friday before Thanksgiving. It not only came from a cadre of school buses that would provide transportation but from the unbridled enthusiasm of students, parents and Raider fans who were preparing to split off in southern and northern directions to watch two Scotch Plains teams in search of playoff glory. Young boys in their Pal football jerseys played catch with each other while giggling girls in their soccer jerseys gabbed on their cell phones waiting for the buses to leave.

For many town residents, it was a difficult choice, for many it was an obvious decision but considering the circumstances it was an impressive showing of school pride and spirit. Although this writer would rather of watched the soccer team complete its incredible season against Wall at The College of New Jersey, I chose the football game at West Morris Central, because I was helping to load the band equipment and to watch my daughter perform in color guard. Another Scotch Plains parent had the choice between watching his son play the same tunes in the band he had heard dozens of times or watch his nephew play soccer. He opted for the band after prodding from his wife.

Earlier in the season it had appeared very likely that this would be a night free from Raider athletics. The football team struggled mightily and barely squeaked into the playoffs. Decided underdogs at second seeded Warren Hills, the Raiders exploded with their best performance of the season to score a stunning 21-0 victory. The soccer team started 1-2, but caught fire and won seventeen straight games, including a 1-0 victory on what was essentially Ramapo’s home field in the semi-finals Monday night.

There was a good amount of history surrounding both match-ups. The Raiders had twice beaten Wall in the state finals and had already taken care of Wall neighbor, Middletown South in the sectional finals the week before. The football team had never beaten West Morris, losing all three playoff games, prompting the saying “West Morris is where Scotch Plains goes to end its season.”

There was only one other high school in the state that had the dilemma Friday night and ironically enough it was the Raiders’ Group III soccer opponent, Wall, which would win both of its games. The games would start an hour apart, with the soccer game starting at 6 pm. everyone it seemed had somebody who would provide updates.

We arrived at a virtually empty West Morris football stadium at 5:30. It would eventually fill up but rush hour traffic would keep the Raider fan buses from arriving until right about game time. Meanwhile down at Ewing, the fan bus was fighting similar traffic.

As we got ready to watch the start of the game, my cell phone rang and the shocking news from Ewing arrived. Not only were the Raiders trailing at halftime but they had yielded two goals, as many as they had given in up in the past seventeen games. Not to worry, the caller said, we were down at West Orange 2-1 and came back with three unanswered goals. I spread the news to the Raider fans, some of who knew already and there was a look of shock but most firmly believed that the soccer team would prevail.

The start of the football game did nothing to pick up our spirits as West Morris quickly pounced on the Raiders’ weakness for giving up long plays and ran the first play from scrimmage 85 yards for a quick 7-0 lead. Scotch Plains would march smartly down the field on a time consuming drive to tie the score. We were hoping that it was a good omen for our soccer brethren fifty miles to the south. I kept looking at the cell phone wondering when the happy news of a Group III championship would arrive. As the clock said 7:40, I could wait no longer..

“One hundred Scotch Plains fans are breathlessly waiting for an update ,” I said breathlessly as the band noise and the crowd on his end made the connection barely audible. “I said please tell me 3-2 Raiders “ but he returned “I can barely hear you but it’s 4-1.”

Bad news spreads quickly and in minutes everyone knew that it was up to the football team to save the night. The first half ended badly as West Morris added a third touchdown in the final thirty seconds of the half to take an imposing 21-7 lead.

The Raiders fought hard to the very end, cutting a 28-7 lead to a touchdown but their last chance at recovering an onside kick failed and the old saying rang true once again.

Like they had done an hour before in Ewing, the buses loaded the Scotch Plains faithful for an unhappy ride home.