Bernards High Homecoming on Friday Night

Anticipation is up for Bernards High's homecoming game for Friday evening, when the undefeated (5-0) Mountaineers will head out onto the field just one week after the varsity football team's win over then-undefeated New Providence.

With last week's 42-3 win, Bernards is the 2012 Mid-State 38 Union Division Champion.

The event brought out a large crowd, with cars spilling over onto streets blocks away, and plenty of fans of all ages lining the fence and enjoying refreshments, and Friday's game promises to also fill the stands and field.

The game against Roselle Park — also white out night for seniors — will be preceeded by a 2 p.m. pep rally at the high school.

Last Friday's special pregame motivational speech by Mark Sanchez, quarterback for the New York Jets, is sure to carry over to this week's game.

"It was great — he gave a warm, heartfelt speech and his tag line was to 'let our dreams be their nightmares,'" said Head Coach Jon Simoneau, who said the moving speech even made him want to put on a helmet and head out to play.

Sanchez works out with the same great group of guys from TEST Sports Club in Martinsville where Bernards High students also train, and last summer he and a few other Jets came and practiced with team members during the lockout, Simoneau said.

"He is a class act and a great motivator and definitely helped make it a night to remember," Simoneau said.