Brick Dragons remain perfect
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

Steve Zrowka, Mike Kiley, Anthony Piezzo, and brothers Bill and J.T. Nash, finished their season with a championship for the fourth straight year, sparking the Brick Dragons to the Hudson County Youth Football League title.

But the 12-0 victory over Jersey City recently that capped a 10-0 season also was the 50th victory for each of them as they take their talents to high school next fall. They’ve lost only three times.

“It [50 victories] was a lot of work during and after practices, and looking at film,” said Zrowka, who threw two touchdown passes to Piezzo of 43 and 67 yards in the second and fourth quarters, respectively.

“I think it’s us, together, and we have so much talent,” said wide receiver Piezzo.

“It’s a lot of film,” said Bill Nash, the center and linebacker. “We look at film for hours. And we knew we had to bring it because Jersey City wasn’t going to lay down and die for us.”

Kiley has been the all-purpose player as the top ballcarrier, punter and kicker.

“We played as one. We were a family from the beginning,” said Kiley. “It goes back to the coaching. We were well-prepared.”

But that “family” feeling did not come easily this fall. All five players a year ago were in the Brick Memorial Mustangs program that won the Jersey Shore League championship and got to the Pop Warner championship game. Because they could not make the weight of that league, they came over to the higher weight restrictions of the Dragons team that had not won a game in the Hudson County League since 2000.

“It was a little bit tough because the chemistry wasn’t there right away. I had to get used to the timing with the receivers,” said Zrowka.

“Once we started playing, we quickly became a family from the first game,” said Kiley.

“Our coaches believe we have a lot of heart, and we do, too,” said J.T. Nash. “We trust in the line to block and the backs to run, the quarterback to throw it and the receivers to catch it. It’s the coaches. I love them with all my heart. I’ll never forget them.”

Head coach Steve Nash, who was assisted by Dave Kiley Sr., Steve Zrowka Sr., Larry Nazarro, Brian Smith, Joe Pittius, Jim Lawson and Ellis Haroldson, said he is proud of the accomplishment of the team and the 50-victory milestone of those five players.

“I’ve been saying that individual talent is great, but it’s the sum of the whole,” said Nash. “Their heart is tremendous. These kids truly love each other and it shows on the field.”

It showed in the championship game as the Dragons had two goal line stands in the second and fourth quarters. Bill Nash had a key tackle behind the line to stifle the first threat, while DaJon Reid knocked down a pass on fourth down on the second bid.

The Dragons, meanwhile, scored on a trick play in the second quarter, called a muddle play, in which they split the line with the center eligible for a pass. Piezzo was open on the right side and had to beat only one defender to the end zone.

“We’ve used it before but in kicking situations,” said Zrowka.

That’s how it stayed until, with 5:31 left, Piezzo caught the ball 35 yards downfield and beat three defenders to the end zone with the insurance touchdown. The defense took care of the rest, cutting off Jersey City’s quick, outside running game like it did in a 24-13 victory when the two teams played during the season.

“The key for us this game was special teams,” said coach Nash. “At one time, Kiley punted from our end zone and it went 55 yards. We worked on every special team every day as well as our passing game. And the hits were phenomenal. We recovered three fumbles.”

Certainly, paying attention to all details helped the Dragons to their greatest season ever.