It’s safe to say that this one belongs in the old “Rippley’s Believe It Or Not.”
It’s like the stuff movies are made of, the fairy tale sagas that no one can comprehend or fathom, that it’s too unbelievable to be true.
Okay, football fans, try this one on for size:
- The running back who led the entire world of college football in rushing yardage this past season was: Petey Guerriero of Monmouth University with 1,995 yards. He also scored 18 touchdowns for good measure. He earned Associated Press First Team All-America status in the process.
- The high school running back who led the entire state of New Jersey in rushing yardage this past season was: Piotr Partyla of Lyndhurst High School, who had 2,381 yards. He also scored 34 touchdowns for good measure, leading his team to the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group II state championship.
And what do the two young men have in common? They’re both from the same little old town called Lyndhurst, New Jersey.
Now, how unbelievable is that? It’s not that they’re both from a major metropolis like New York or Boston. It’s Lyndhurst. Think about it, the leading rusher in all of college football and the leading rusher in all of New Jersey are both from Lyndhurst and both are good friends and workout partners.
It’s extraordinary, to say the least.
And both young men had incredible news to announce recently.
Guerriero, the 2015-2016 Observer Male Athlete of the Year, announced that he will forego his final year of eligibility at Monmouth and enter his name into the National Football League Draft in two months.
Partyla, who previously announced his intentions to attend Northern Illinois University, has decided to accept an offer from Rutgers University and become a person with preferred walk-on status with the Scarlet Knights and new head coach Greg Schiano in the fall.
Lyndhurst head football coach Rich Tuero, who had the great fortune of coaching both young men, tried to put it all to words.
“It’s really unbelievable,” Tuero said. “It’s the coolest feeling in the world. I’m so proud of both of them. They’ve both been underdogs their whole lives. One is going to the Big Ten and the other is going to the NFL and they’re both Lyndhurst boys. It’s truly amazing. The calls, the texts I’ve been getting are from people that are so excited for these kids. It’s just awesome.”
Guerriero was asked about his ascent, from going to Monmouth strictly on a track and field scholarship, then telling the coaching staff he wanted to try out for the football team, then first being classified as the No. 7 back on the depth chart, then No. 4 and then finally becoming the main back.
“I won’t say I’m amazed by it,” Guerriero said. “A lot of people didn’t expect me to play college football, but I wanted to be an All-American. I always set the bar high for myself. I had no offers to play football, but I didn’t walk away from the game. I had a plan from the beginning to be an All-American and the end goal was the NFL. I wish I could have accomplished much more in my college career. All I wanted was an opportunity to show what I could do.”
The same was for Partyla, who received no offers from any other school other than NIU, but Partyla kept the faith.
“I always wanted to play at Rutgers,” Partyla said. “That was my dream to play at Rutgers. It was the first college football team I knew about and I always paid attention to them.”
Tuero got in touch with former interim head coach Nunzio Campanile, a northern New Jersey guy, who is remaining on as part of Schiano’s coaching staff. He then heard from Augie Hoffman, the former St. Joseph of Montvale coach who is joining Schiano and Campanile at Rutgers.
And then there was the final piece to the puzzle. Partyla received a phone call on his cell. He didn’t know who it was at first. The caller identified himself.
“Piotr, this is Greg Schiano at Rutgers,” the caller said. “We want you to come here.”
“That was just crazy,” Partyla said. “Coach Schiano called me. He said he wanted me. The coaches definitely showed me a lot of love and made me feel at home.”
Partyla, Tuero and Partyla’s father went for an official visit to Rutgers.
“It was awesome,” Tuero said. “We sat in a room together, just me, Piotr, Piotr’s dad and Coach Schiano. We sat there and talked for about an hour. Piotr committed on the spot. I mean, he’s going to the Big Ten. He’s going to Rutgers. It’s our school. It was killing me. I knew the quality of player he is. There was so much stress getting this kid to go some place. I had never been on an official visit before. I was pinching myself. This is a Lyndhurst kid.”
Guerriero is preparing for the NFL Draft by working out regularly (six days a week) at the Parisi Speed School in Fair Lawn with other prospects like Elijah Riley of Army, Jawan Green of Albany and Kevin Davidson of Princeton. Guerriero is also doing special work with former New York Giants Super Bowl hero and current football television analyst Phil Simms and his son, Matt.
“We throw together a couple times a week,” Guerriero said of his lessons with the Simms QBs. “I’m learning more about technique and passing schemes, where to catch the ball. I’m learning how to adapt to the ball. I think I’m a pretty good receiver. It’s a tremendous asset to me.”
As has been the Parisi Draft Combine protocol.
“It’s now my job,” Guerriero said. “I’m learning what’s best in the film room, help my football IQ, things I didn’t know. I’m getting smarter as I get older.”
Guerriero is currently 21 years old. He’ll be 22 in July.
Guerriero remains a good friend and mentor to Partyla.
“I find it so ironic that two guys named Pete from the same community, two running backs from Lyndhurst could lead the nation and the state,” Guerriero said. “It’s so awesome. I’ve always been here for him. We watch films together, workout together. He actually asked me if we could watch film. I love being with him.”
The two work out regularly at FASST in Lyndhurst.
“We talk a lot,” Partyla said. “He always tries to help me. I’m always so happy to see him. He’s getting a chance to make it to the NFL and that’s awesome. He obviously knows what it takes and he puts me on the right path. It’s good to have him as a friend. He definitely makes me want to work harder. When we work out, he pushes me. He’s just a great mentor and friend.”
And as for the idea that both are moving on to the next level, the highest level?
“I feel like it’s pretty crazy,” Partyla said. “We’re proving all the people wrong. We’re two undersized players who nobody thought could do it. It definitely makes me proud and I think it makes the whole town proud.”
It’s safe to say that Lyndhurst is definitely proud of their two native sons.
James Blake has also received an NCAA Division II scholarship offer from Franklin Pierce in New Hampshire. Partyla and Blake will sign their letters Wednesday at a special presentation at the high school.
CAPTION
Lyndhurst’s native sons Petey Guerriero (left) and Piotr Partyla (right) were both the leading rushers in their respective divisions and had both big announcements recently about their future, Photo by Jim Hague
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Jim Hague | Observer Sports Writer
Sports Writer Jim Hague was with The Observer for 20+ years — and his name is one of the most recognizable in all of sports journalism. The St. Peter’s Prep and Marquette alum kicked off his journalism career post Marquette at the Daily Record, where he remained until 1985. Following shorts stints at two other newspapers, in September 1986, he joined the now-closed Hudson Dispatch, where he remained until 1991, when its doors were finally shut.
It was during his tenure at The Dispatch that Hague’s name and reputation as one of country’s hardest-working sports reporters grew. He won several New Jersey Press Association and North Jersey Press Club Awards in that timeframe.
In 1991, he became a columnist for The Hudson Reporter chain of newspapers — and he remains with them to this day.
In addition to his work at The Observer and The Hudson Reporter, Hague is also an Associated Press stringer, where he covers Seton Hall University men’s basketball, New York Red Bulls soccer and occasionally, New Jersey Devils hockey.
He’s also doing work at The Morristown Daily Record, the very newspaper where his journalism career began.
During his career, he also worked for Dorf Feature Services, which provided material for the Star-Ledger. While there, he covered the New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets.
Hague is also known for his announcing work — and he’s done PA work for Rutgers Newark and NJIT.
Hague is the author of the book “Braddock: The Rise of the Cinderella Man.”