The 2014 Viking football team had ambitious plans at the beginning of the season. Junior Michael Paeolello was leading a charge for a state playoff game and maybe a championship. This talented athlete changed the Viking offense into a pass heavy team, a team that would soon claim victory over most of their opposing teams.
During the first game of the season, against town rival Queen of Peace, the Vikings lost their star quarter back to an ACL, MCL, and meniscus tear through a run play inches short from the end zone. The Vikings then turned to sophomore Marc Cunningham to carry on the game as quarter back. The game was won 7-2 with the Viking defense letting no points through (a safety was scored).
In the coming week, what seemed to be a small knee injury came to be a season ending injury for the young junior. The team, shocked by the news, hung their heads, knowing that their chance for a championship had been ended with Michael’s knee. Head coach, Anthony Marck, took it in his hands to rally his “men” by giving a poignant speech, he said, “While Mike’s injury is an adversity it is not a tragedy… We will rally around Marc Cunningham.”
The day after the game against Wallington was starting off smoothly when adversity struck – Marc Cunningham was sacked and broke his ankle in two places, he was also done for the season. The Vikings ended up winning that game and focused on the challenge at hand.
The home opener was the following week and the Vikings rallied around Junior Antonio Monahan as their quarterback. The Vikings were not so fortunate at their game against Cresskill losing 40-14. After the game, Coach Marck wanted to shift attention from their loss, saying, “I’ve never been prouder to have a finer set of men standing here before me, today, however, I am disappointed and you are disappointed, but let’s not be bitter for what happened, happened, we will pour our adversity into productivity.”
With heads held high, the team marched off the field wanting nothing more than victory. The Vikings will battle Hasbrouck Heights Friday, October 3rd, and they want nothing more than victory.