Thursday,
December 3, 2015
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
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NV/Old Tappan's Zack DeNike has run for 1,377 yards and scored 22 touchdowns so far this year and has been a key part of the Golden Knights' high-powered offense. |
OLD TAPPAN – From the time he was in 7th grade, Northern Valley/Old Tappan's Zach DeNike had a vision. That vision, which was really more of a dream, continued to play out in his head, over and over, for years to come. Whenever DeNike would close his eyes he'd see himself walking out of the tunnel at MetLife Stadium in an Old Tappan uniform to play for a state championship. On Saturday, he will open his eyes and see that dream turn into a reality when the Golden Knights take the championship at MetLife Stadium against Wayne Hills to play for the North 1, Group 4 state title.
DeNike was called up to the varsity team late in his freshman year as a backup tailback. He started as a sophomore and became a bigger part of the offense in his junior campaign during which he scored 14 TDs. But that season did not end as planned as Old Tappan fell to eventual state champ Pascack Valley in the North 1, Group 4 playoffs.
This season, DeNike has run roughshod over the opposition rushing for 1,377 yards on just 146 carries (9.43 yards per carry). He also scored 22 TDs. With nearly all the key pieces of the Golden Knights returning for this season, DeNike and his teammates knew this team had the chance to be special and do something no Old Tappan team had done in 30 years -- win a state championship.
“We had high expectations coming into the season and we knew if we worked really hard that we had a good chance to make a run at winning a state title,” DeNike said. “Coach (Brian) Dunn really kept us grounded in the off-season and through the entire year. He always reminded us that even though we're making strides, we hadn't won anything yet. It's about getting better every rep, every play and if we have that mentality all year long good things will follow.”
Teammate Jordan Fuller is known as one of, if not the, most dangerous athlete on the field in every game he plays in. But with quarterback Kevin Martinez, a big and physical offensive line, along with a speedster like DeNike, who is just as adept running between the tackles as he is on running sweeps to the outside, the Golden Knights are a nightmare for opposing defenses. Old Tappan has averaged a New Jersey-leading 44 points a game in winning all 11 of its games to date; scoring at least 42 points in eight of those games.
The success of the both DeNike and the Golden Knights has certainly been on display this year on the field. But that does not just come with hard work, it comes with a selfless nature that everyone on the team possesses.
“Our team is really close both on and off the field,” said DeNike. “It's a brotherhood and a true family that we have. Whenever we pass each other in the hallways (in school) and stuff, we're always talking about the next game. That has really hit me this week, knowing that we're playing for a state championship. We want to win this game so bad. But we just don't want this for ourselves. We want to win this for every player who played on an Old Tappan team before us and I'm sure they will be supporting us and cheering us on.”
Throughout the season, the 5'9” 180 lb. DeNike has attracted the attention of football programs at universities and colleges ranging from Division 1 to Division 3, with the majority of them being in Division 1-AA and Division 2. While that process has been interesting and exciting, the senior has tunnel vision and is determined to fulfill his dream.
On Saturday at 1:00 P.M. the first part of that dream will be realized as Old Tappan takes the field against Wayne Hills with the North , Group 4 title at stake. But the ultimate dream is to hoist the trophy and finish off the greatest season in the history of Old Tappan football as a state champion.
“It's going to be mesmerizing to walk onto that field at MetLife for the first time knowing that we've made it and we're playing on the same field where every great NFL player over the past 30 years, at some point in time, has played, but once we get on the field it's all business,” said DeNike. “The school is fired up and I'm sure it will be incredible to be out there on Saturday.
"That dream I have been having since I was in 7th grade is finally coming true. This is the game that my teammates and I will be talking about for the rest of our lives. It's been a perfect season in every way so far and I can't think of a better way to end it than to be state champs.”
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