SPORTS WRAP
By William Hathaway, Jr.
Two big local football games were held recently, highlighting the area’s best high school talent. First, the 27th Annual Paul Robeson football classic was held in East Orange at Paul Robeson Stadium. The East All Stars versus the West All Stars has been an annual football classic for years. Over the past two years, the game was nor played due to COVID-19.
Leading the West All Stars was Kennedy Ladorien Ladsen who caught a 14 yard touchdown pass from Joe Rina. Wayne Hills running back Amir Smith scored on an 8 yard run in the first half, and the West team 12-0 at halftime. During the half, the Essex County Football Coaches Association honored former high school football leaders. Among those honored were Chris Ostrowsky, Dave Curtin, Julius Montford, and former East Orange Head Coach, Marion Bell of the East Orange Jaguars in 2004, Tom Lamont the former head coach of the Caldwell Chiefs.
The second half saw more dominance from the West. Ashin Jacobs got the last score of the game, a 3 yard touchdown from Joe Rina, to put the West up for good in a 19-0 win. The game was comprised of players from Essex County schools like West Side West Orange, Orange, East Orange, Verona, Caldwell, Montclair, East Side High in Newark and Shabazz.
In the other annual high school showcase, the North-South took place on Sunday night at Kean University. The Phil Simms Football Classic features the best football players from all over. In this annual game, leading EOCHS star Raedon Oliver led a big 21-16 comeback victory. The South team led for nearly the entire game until late in the second half, when Oliver tossed a touchdown pass to Seton Hall Prep’s Nick Dunneman for a score. Like the Robeson game, local stars were honored, including Dominick Verducci and others.
