After they lost their first two games of the season to St. Peter’s Prep and Memorial – by a total of three points – things didn’t look good for the Bulldogs of Emerson High School.
Now, some eight weeks later, the Bulldogs have already done something that no other football team has ever done in the rich history of Emerson, namely earn a right to play for a state championship.
The Bulldogs defeated West Milford, in a 50-36 North Jersey Section 1, Group IV barnburner that enabled Emerson to advance to next Saturday’s state title game against Passaic Tech, which will be held at Roosevelt Stadium in Union City.
Not only will it mark Emerson’s first appearance in the state finals, but it will also be the first state championship game ever played in Union City.
But before the Bulldogs can worry about the state championship, there was another matter at hand, namely the annual Thanksgiving Day showdown with crosstown rival Union Hill.
If the Bulldogs managed to capture the 80th renewal of one of New Jersey’s oldest Thanksgiving Day rivalries, then they would also earn the HCIAA American Conference championship – the school’s first football league title since 1987.
So, think about the enormity of these two weeks. This Emerson team played for a county title this week and a state title next.
“It’s unbelievable,” said senior quarterback Joan “J.Q.” Quezada, one of the spearheads of the great late-season eight-game winning streak that has culminated with the two championship game performances. “We started off 0-2 and a lot of people doubted us. But we’ve been fortunate to win all of the rest of our games and now we have a chance to accomplish some great things.”
Emerson head coach Eddie Marinez knows that his team has a tough task ahead of it.
“To tell you the truth, this has all been very stressful,” Marinez said. “The traditional game can throw a wrench into the whole plans. It’s going to be a very draining game, then to come back and play a team that has been preparing to play you for two weeks. But we’ll be ready.”
As long as standout receiver Miguel Merrick is ready. The senior, who is definitely making a late surge toward earning All-State honors, scored three touchdowns and set up two more in last week’s explosive victory over West Milford. It was such an impressive performance that the opposition all left talking about his big-play ability.
“The kid is amazing,” Quezada said of his teammate. “Every time I get him the ball, he just does such great things with it. Every play he makes is pretty special. He’s fun to watch.”
So are the Bulldogs. They’re the last dogs standing in the state playoffs this year. No one would have figured that, including some sportswriters who picked against them last week.