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Pats Half-Time Regroup Softens Blow of Loss to Wallkill Valley

September 18, 2026

Football player running with the ball and blocking an opponent with his arm. — Tyler Stout ran for 28 yards against Wallkill Valley. Photo by Joe Phalon.

A half-time reminder about playing as a team helped the North Warren Patriots outscore Wallkill Valley 8-6 in the second half, but unfortunately the 35 points Wallkill scored in the first half kept the game out of reach as the Rangers outplayed the Pats 41-8 this past Saturday.

Frustration was evident heading into the locker room at half time with North Warren head coach John Baum reminding his Patriots about teamwork, or as he calls it, the 11 as one theory.

“We had a conversation about that at halftime,” Baum said. “We set out to come out and win the second half, and we did that.”

Football players piled onto player holding the ball with helmet falling off as he goes down — Scott Stiehl gains ground for the Patriots the hard way. Photo by Joe Phalon.

The Patriots had played as that cohesive unit during their opening day 32-0 win against Bound Brook. But that was followed by last week’s 12-6 loss to Parsippany, where some of that unity had diminished. By Saturday, Baum had had just about enough.

He was pleased with the results of his locker room discussion.

“We put up eight, they put up six, and I’m happy with them coming together and working through the nonsense they had to work through,” Baum said. “I mean, that happens in every family, right?”

The margin allowed Baum to get some of his younger players a turn at the wheel.

“We started the summer with only two freshmen,” Baum said. “Now we’re back up to like seven or eight. And I think a lot of these guys, if they stay, if they stick with it for the next four years, they’re going to turn into some good pieces.”

Football players jostle on the field — Freshman Scott Stiehl was all over the field for North Warren last Saturday. Photo by Joe Phalon.

Baum was particularly pleased with the performance of freshman Scott Steihl, who filled in at fullback and linebacker, filling some of the void left by senior Michael Soricelli’s injuries.

Stiehl “actually played a lot of the whole game after Michael Sorcelli went down,” Baum said. “He was a bright spot as a freshman. I’m excited to work with the younger guys coming down the road.”

But for the moment, Baum emphasized, he’s focused on the here and now.

That includes Tyler Stout’s nine-yard run for a third quarter touchdown, followed by a Ian Ksiazek two-point conversion.

Football player running unopposed for a touchdown — Tyler Stout sets up a North Warren touchdown. Photo by Joe Phalon.

Stout ran for a total of 28 yards on seven carries. Quarterback Charles Mamay connected on six of 10 attempts for 61 yards.

The Patriots face off against Hopatcong at home Friday at 7 p.m.

Joe Phalon, Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

Joe brings decades of journalism experience to the Ridge View Echo, covering everything from local school boards to the U.S. Supreme Court. A former National Law Journal editor and Columbia Law School press officer, he now enjoys telling community stories in Blairstown, where he lives with his wife, Rose, and their two dachshunds.