After Week 1 Loss, Mahwah Thunderbirds Hope To 'Limit Mistakes' Next Week Against Tenafly

MAHWAH, NJ — It was a one-point game late in the fourth quarter, and the Mahwah Thunderbirds put a few plays together to find themselves in field-goal range. But in an unexpected twist, the Kinnelon High School football team intercepted the ball to march it down the field for another touchdown. The game ended 19-12.

After a hard-fought opening loss to the Colts on Thursday night, Mahwah High School is looking to step up and limit mistakes in next week's game at Tenafly, coach Adam Szuch said.

Neither the Thunderbirds nor the Colts found the end zone in the first and second quarters of the Week 1 non-conference game, Szuch said.

Junior quarterback David Kobobel led the opening drive of the second half with three rushes for 36 yards. Ben Kershner, Szuch said, capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to give the Thunderbirds the lead. But the extra point was blocked.

Kinnelon answered with a 74-yard touchdown pass, and the Colts' extra point was successful, resulting in a score of 7-6.

After a fourth-down conversion and an ensuing 11-yard pass from Kobobel to Omar Ahmed, the quarterback then led the drive with another four carries for 66 yards and a 12-yard touchdown run. Mahwah reclaimed the lead 12-7 in the fourth quarter.

Again, Kinnelon responded, with a 10-play drive for a touchdown run to take back the lead 13-12, and quickly added to that lead with moments to go in the game after the interception.

Mahwah will face Tenafly in a road game at 7 p.m. on Sept. 9.