game. Photo by Joe Phalon, 9/2023.
Landon White continues to tear up the turf for the North Warren Patriots, scoring all four of the team’s touchdowns against Kinnelon September 22.
Phalon, 9/2023
And while 28 points is nothing to scoff at, in this case it wasn’t enough to overcome Kinnelon’s. Nevertheless, Pats Head Coach Eugene Fluri had praise for his young team, acknowledging that they still have to work on their basics.
“We’ve got to clean up the little fundamental,” stuff Fluri said. “How are we supposed to win if you can’t tackle?”
But Fluri said he told the team not to be discouraged. “You can’t put your head down,” he said. “We don’t teach that.”
White, on the other hand, continues to impress Fluri. A senior who had played mostly defense throughout his varsity years, White told Fluri he really wanted to get his hands on the ball this year, and he didn’t disappoint.
“We took him off the defense because when he’s on offense, man, he’s dynamite,” Fluri said. “He’s very special.”
White had 105-yard rushing, including two touchdowns, and 145 passing yards from quarterback Luke Stefankiewicz, also with two touchdowns.
While it’s clear North Warren can score points, Fluri the offense will need to step up to win.
“The defense has to answer for us,” he said.
The Patriots play their next two games at home, September 29 against Boonton and October 6 against High Point.
Joe Phalon, Contributing Writer
Joe was lured out of retirement by the opportunity to be a part of the Ridge View Echo. During a decades-long career in publishing and journalism, he has covered government on many levels from local school boards to the United States Supreme Court.
Along the way, Joe has worked at American Lawyer Magazine, The National Law Journal and The Record among other publications, and as the Press Officer of Columbia Law School. His work has been recognized with several first place awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the New Jersey Press Association.
Being part of the Ridge View Echo brings Joe back to his roots and the kind of news coverage he loves: Telling the stories of people and local communities as well as keeping an eye on how their money is spent by their government officials.
Joe lives in Blairstown with his wife Rose, the founder of Quilting for a Cause, and their two wiener dogs. He is an artist in his spare time.
