Publisher’s Note: George Muha joined fellow football writers and long time Rockaway residents Rocky Walifer and Sherm Reale at the new Gencarelli’s Restaurant in the Quik Check Plaza in downtown Rockaway.  The three enjoyed delicious food and chewed the fat about the rekindled football rivalry between cross-town rivals Morris Hills and Morris Knolls  The two Rockaway teams will meet for the first time in decades Saturday, September 12, at 1:30 p.m. at Gifford Field.

George Muha: Ok boys, here’s a fastball down the middle: What was it like growing up in Rockaway?

Sherm Reale: Grim, extremely grim. We walked seven miles to school in the snowy winter.

Rocky Walifer: And backwards on even-numbered days so that we wouldn’t wear our shoes out.

George: Oh brother, I think it’s gonna be a long night with you two. Anyhow, what can you two tell me about what this game means to your community that you left out of the preview that accompanied your predictions this week?

Rocky: Well, for starters, only Sherm's hairdresser knows for sure. And George, you need to wipe the clam sauce off your chin.

Sherm: What do you two know about zone blocking? And Rocky, you only wish you had hair.

Rocky: I really do need to do something about my haircut immediately, for the sake of the non sunglass wearing nation.

George: Hmmm.

Rocky: Is it basketball season already? We always played man-to-man.

Sherm: Look you two, zone blocking is the secret sauce of the Houston Veer, which Coach Regan could teach advanced level college courses about.

Rocky: And your point is …

Sherm: Watch the action in the pits on Saturday. Actually, there’ll be three games going on. The first, if you will, is the actual game. The second, is the pit action. The third, and perhaps the most interesting, will be the intellectual chess-match between two very good coaches.

Rocky: It pains me to say this but I’ll admit that Sherm is right.

George: You two actually agree about something?

Sherm: We always agree to disagree. Agree Rocky?

Rocky: Barely. You see there was this girl in high school we both knew … ahhh, never mind. The actual game may be the least interesting aspect of the afternoon. Think about it. In the pits for the Knolls you’ll have the typical Golden Eagle munchkins. Now, before any of the censors and other assorted wet-nurses monitoring this new site delete this comment as being outside the bounds, let me say both Sherm and I use this sobriquet with the utmost love and respect. As evidence, recall the great Randolph teams of the 80s and early 90s, who won countless state championships under the great John Bauer, Senior, with lines that were often outweighed across the board by anywhere from 50 to 150 pounds per man.

Sherm: Of course those teams, and today’s Knollers, were probably all National Honor Society members who could comprehend the intricate blocking schemes of their offense, possessed incredible technique (primarily due to an innate understanding of the concept of leverage and the religious development of strong legs and core), and a special knowledge accrued from playing side-by-side with one another in the same system since kindergarten.

Rocky: But George, I think MoHills’ Coach Sabo was a little too modest, as any good coach would be, when you interviewed him for the Hills’ preview. Specifically, I would note that there was a loud silence about the fact that the Scarlet Knights possess more than a little size up-front. Although your “X-Factor” noted that “The Scarlet Knights may be smaller in size…” please allow me to invite you, your loyal readers, and the MK-ers about to do battle with these laddies to chew on some statistics, mostly names not mentioned in the preview -- purposely, perhaps? -- straight from the roster you printed: Adam Hiltz, 301lbs; Michael Beattie. 295lbs; Chuck Foster, 295lbs; Brian Grise, 290lbs; Kevin Pagona, 290lbs; Anthony Andrade, 272lbs; Mike McCormick--who was mentioned in the preview—272lbs; and Andrew Boettcher, at a comparatively-svelte 255lbs. I don’t know what they’re serving in the chow line at the Hills’ cafeteria -- and if the food is that good I think we should do our next interview there -- but nobody is gonna ask “Where’s the beef?” when they line up against this squad.

Sherm: The last time I checked, Morris Knolls was part of the Morris Hills Regional School District. Hence, they are buying their foodstuffs from the same companies. So Rocky, unless you are willing to bet your next paltry paycheck, let’s not upset the cafeteria staffs by implying tomfoolery at the service level. Back in the day, if you will, I loved the heaping portions piled on for the infamous Wednesday MK Stew. Since Coach Regan was also our track coach, we had to eat 4000-5000 calories a day just to remain skeletons. Hey George, have you ever had a big helping of Sustenance washed down with tea and honey?

George: Is that all?

Rocky: Is that all? Heck no. Your heard it here first … keep an eye on MoHills’ TE/DB Antonio Castro. I saw him play basketball last winter and was favorably impressed with his size, strength and athleticism. Although he was another guy I thought conspicuously absent from mention in your MH preview, I expect him to be seeing some solid playing time.

George: That’s interesting, but what aren’t you telling me?

Sherm: I'm tellin ya I don't think they have Branch water in this joint! What does a guy gotta do to get a Branch water?

Rocky: Enough with the Branch water! Well, since you’re picking up the tab tonight George, I’ll tell you that you gotta give props to Coach Sabo, an old MoHillser himself, for creativity and moxie. He’s a solid, traditional, by-the-book football man 100 percent of the time. But he seems to always have a trick up his sleeve, if needed. Plus, I should note that he’s had impressive stability on his staff. Coaches Giovine, Struck, Barchetto, Danyus, Lusardi, Bell, Galluccii, etc. have been with him for a while now and they all know how to win. That speaks volumes about this program.

Sherm: Coach Tony Lusardi!!!  Rocky, remember trying to tackle him back in 75 and 76? He was Excedrine Headache number 32. And, like all his former players, there aren’t enough words to express our love and admiration for Coach Regan.

George: What about the interesting combination of communities that these schools draw from?

Rocky: George, you gotta understand that many of these kids that’ll be squaring off against one another grew up together, played together, and went to school together, and were only separated when they went to high school by the vagaries of some random factotum who established school district lines in the sand. You just can’t explain the emotions associated with this meeting to outsiders.

Sherm: Let me have the floor. You have been yappin so much I'm ready for seconds. What was that unpronounceable dish I just had?

Rocky: The floor is yours, Senator, and you can now bore George's gentle readers with the microscopic intricacy of your analysis.

Sherm: You guys can talk about “X-Factors” and size all you want. I’ll give the fans the real key to this game. Plain and simple, pad level at the point of attack, maintaining contact and running the ball north and south. The team that accomplishes these three tasks most consistently will be smiling after the game. The fans will be ready, the coaches will have their teams ready, and the players will be sky-high with emotion by kick-off. I just can’t wait for the sound of football contact. The grunts, the paced and hurried breathing, the sweat, the grime, the intensity. It’s like when the Spartans did battle with the Athenians, no prisoners will be taken. This will be a battle gentlemen, a battle for the Route 46 corridor. Be true to your school old timers! I can’t wait to get it on! Tighten up the chinstraps, put your ears back and rock ‘n roll boys. Enough with the small talk – the time has come for this rivalry to be renewed. Can we buy tickets in advance? Is it getting hot in here or is it just me?

Rocky: George, while the Senator Sherm wipes his sweaty brow and takes a breath, will you kindly pass the bread?

Sherm: Rocky, will you please chew with your mouth closed?

Rocky (opening his mouth wide): How’s the seafood tonight Sherm?

George: That’s gross. But thanks, as always, for your thoughts boys.

ONE MORE THING: Try the Chicken Alla Griglia at Gencarelli’s. It’ll be the tastiest $12 you ever spent. If you get the clams with white wine sauce for an appetizer, ask for an extra loaf of bread or, better yet, a straw to mop up the “juice.” Best nights to visit are Thursday or Sunday, as the owners take their time preparing some of the freshest and finest Italian food I’ve ever tasted for the money.