(Left) ERod's final photograph on the Bruins' Stadium field.On Friday, November 24, 2006, ERod attended the viewing for his beloved Grandmother in the late afternoon and then led the North Bergen Bruins to a 26-8 victory that evening at Bruins Stadium. The day would prove to be the last time he saw his Grandmother, and the last time he ever lead a Bruins team on the High School football field.
As the 2006 Bruins season ended that night, so did the career of one of the all-time Bruins greats, #7. The 8-2 season will forever feel like a bitter ending considering the team's first round state playoffs exit as the #1 seed to the #8-seeded Clifton Mustangs. And yet it it was a successful conclusion to an all-time NBHS great's football career.
ERod scored on a 2-yard TD run in the game, his 18th career rushing TD, and his 43rd career TD overall. He would also conclude his career with a total of 17 passing TDs, one fumble recovery TD, four punt return TDs, two kickoff return TDs and one TD catch.
In his four year career he started 40 consecutive games on defense 30 consecutive games on offense while racking up a boatload of honors. His team's record improved over his career from 6-4 in 2003, to 7-3 in both 2004 and 2005, and then 8-2 this season (28-12 overall). As the starting quarterback the last two seasons, the team went 15-5 and averaged over 30+ points per game on offense.
With the postseason now here, another round of awards are sure to follow. There are persistent rumors that ERod with play in the 2007 Governor's Bowl in June 2007, representing the State of New Jersey vs the State of New York. There are expectations that he should be named first-team AP All-State as a DB, as well as All-Hudson County.
And the crowning achievement would be signing a Letter of Intent to a major Division I University on a full-scholarship in February 2007.
And all the while his late Grandmother Julia will be looking down on her grandson, helping lead the way to his future successes.
