Fenton regains its focus

If the Fenton Bison are intent on challenging for the Metro Suburban Conference crown this season, they must learn to play focused football for a full 48 minutes.

In case they forgot, the Bison got a bit of a reminder from Ridgewood Friday night. Fenton let the Rebels creep within a single score in the third quarter before eventually refocusing their efforts for a 34-12 victory in Norridge.

"We had way too many mistakes. Basically, after the first quarter, we shot ourselves in the foot," Fenton coach Mark Ferrell said.

The Bison (3-2, 2-0) executed their ground game as well as possible in the first quarter, as quarterback Eric Justiniano and running back Tyrell McGee repeatedly gashed the Ridgewood defense for big gains. Fenton scored on each of its two first-quarter possessions and again to open the second quarter, building a 20-6 lead in the process.

"In the beginning of the game, we kind of loosened them up with a little bit of option. They were trying to really scrape over the top and take away the dive, which opened up backside," Farrell said. "Eric was able to get a couple big runs cutting back against the grain when they overpursued."

Justiniano utilized the quarterback option for gains of 19, 20, and 30 yards in the first quarter alone. His 20-yard rush on second-and-13 gave Fenton an early 7-0 advantage.

Justiniano's success on the ground stemmed from his ability to manipulate the Rebels' defensive line.

"We would go to the play side, and they would attack whatever way we went. I went to go hand it off, and then I booked out the back side," the 5-foot-9 senior quarterback said. "They didn't really read that well."

Ridgewood (2-3, 1-1) tightened up its defense after halftime, forcing Fenton to punt on its only third-quarter possession. The Rebels cut the score to 20-12 with 8:07 remaining in the game when quarterback Mario Kutylowski leaped over a goal-line pile for a 1-yard touchdown plunge.

"It was definitely a wake-up call," Justiniano said. "I think a couple of people got tired, and that's another thing we've got to work on."

Fenton dug deep and put the game out of reach nearly five minutes later, as McGee zigzagged into the end zone from 8 yards out for a 15-point lead.

"More senior leadership," McGee prescribed as the Bison's key for focus. "That'll rub off to the juniors, juniors will rub off to the sophomores, and maybe a tradition will start."