Even though the score may look like the Cardinals put on an offensive showcase, it was the defense that dictated this game.

"That’s the way we want to play our games, with the defense setting up the offense," said Head Coach Scott Mahoney. "The defense sets up our offense with a short field to work with so we can use our weapons to score."

Specifically the offense/defensive line of Tommy Duncan, Alen Ren, Matt Grosser, and Taylor Majka confused and dictated the game to Garfield. It’s not that Garfield did not play well or with great spirit. It was just that Pompton Lakes was bigger and faster than the Boilmaker up front men. "We spend a considerable amount of time in the weight room," said Duncan afterwards.

The importance of this victory did not escape Mahoney. Pompton Lakes has a great record, but in New Jersey a team needs power points also to make the playoffs. In a case where a Group 1 schools defeats a Group 2 school, as Pompton Lakes did on Friday, additional power points are earned.

"Because of the power points we earned tonight, and if we can take care of business next week against Hawthorne, then the Glen Rock game is more about placement in the playoffs and not making the playoffs," said Mahoney.

The game started with Garfield getting the ball and being forced to punt. Pompton Lakes got the ball on their own 25 yard line and struggled for six plays (including penalties) to get the ball to their own 32.

Then on a third and sixteen yards to go for a first down quarterback Sean Carey threw a 67 yard pass to Steve Szwech, down to the one yard line. Three plays later Matthews threw a five-yard pass to Paul Mason, and the Cardinals took a 6-0 lead with 3:22 remaining in the first quarter.

The Cardinals scored again when they got the ball with 8:59 remaining in the half. The brought the ball from their own 25 to their own 42 yard line. Receiver Paul Mason talked about the next play. "I went out for a small pass and Sean threw the ball to me, but I lost it in the lights. I stuck up my hands and the ball found me and I caught it. Then I looked down and saw three defenders so I ran vertically across the field to the other side then turned and ran as fast as I could into the end zone."

The 58 yard touchdown pass and run plus Brian Minarovich’s good point after put Pompton Lakes up 13-0 with 7:06 left in the half.

Pompton Lakes put on one more drive in the half that included a 28-yard run by Mike Ward on a fake punt but the drive stalled before the end of the half.

In the first half the Cardinal defense held Garfield to just 17 plays from scrimmage, while Pompton Lakes had 29 plays.

The second half was all about defense and who would let up the big play first. The Garfield quarterbacks were pressured with Taylor Majka recording two sacks in the first six minuets.

With 4:16 remaining in the third quarter Pompton Lakes got that short field that Mahoney talked about. They received the ball on the Garfield 35-yard line. On a second down play P.J. Rodriguez went off his left tackle and ran 30 yard for a touchdown. Minarovich’s point after was good and Pompton Lakes led 20-0.

"That’s the kind of players we have," said Mahoney. "A team can key on any one player. A player like P.J. Rodriguez will get the ball and turn on the speed like he did on that play."

The game went back to it’s defensive nature. With 5:30 remaining in the game Paul Mason came up big again and intercepted a pass on Pompton Lakes’ own 20-yard line. He brought the ball up to the Boilermaker 43.

Four plays later, once again on a short field, the Cardinals scored on Mike Ward’s two-yard run. Minarovich’s kick was good and Pompton Lakes led with 4:55 remaining 27-0.

"Every week we set up defensive goals," said defensive Coach Adam Zygmunt. "Then we go out and execute the goals."

If this week’s goal was to stop, and confuse the Boilmakers, then the Cardinal’s goal was met.