So this is rebuilding, huh?

On paper … yeah, West Morris has the look of starting over.

Gone are the familiar names, who were replaced by … um, what was that kid’s name again?

And who are those other guys?

Well, they are the new Wolfpack and they are 1-0 after a season-opening 24-16 victory over what might be the best Mendham team in at least 10 years, if not longer.

“People think we are rebuilding but we are not,” stellar two-way lineman Tom Borgia said. “We are here to play West Morris football.”

That they did.

It was the same old Wolfpack … highly effective Delaware Wing-T … balanced running game … not much passing … picture-perfect blocking … solid-if-unspectacular defense … playing big in the clutch.

Sound familiar? It should. That has been the recipe down through the years for one of Morris County’s all-time best programs.

Once again, West Morris put all of those qualities up in the display window. The Wolfpack are coming off three straight sectional titles and, in one night, stamped themselves as contenders for a fourth.

Who is gonna bet against this team?

The new cast showed that they will be a tough out. They sure were against Mendham.

“We prepare for every game in the offseason,” Borgia said. “Since June 10, we have been in the weight room, getting on the field. We have been out there grinding. Getting the first win is a huge deal. We want to go out and dominate and show people what we can do.”

The offseason work ethic is second to none.

“You need to have that work mindset,” running back Jaxon Corkery said. “We can’t be, ‘Hey, we are West Morris. We’ll win it.’ You still gotta work hard.”

West Morris rushed 42 times for 348 yards and had two runners go over 100 yards. Peter Miragliotta rushed 19 times for 167 yards – with many of those yards coming after first contact.

Corkery, meanwhile, had 10 rushes for 104 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Brady Bentrewicz contributed 63 yards on eight carries.

Corkery scored two fourth-quarter touchdown runs as the Wolfpack broke a 10-10 tie after the Minutemen came back from being down 10-0 at the half.

West Morris had taken a 10-0 lead into the half after Johnny Viera booted a 24-yard field goal and Bentrewicz ran in from 2 yards out.

Mendham got back into the game and tied it in the third period when Cole Capuzzi (17 for 113 rushing) scored a 29-yard touchdown and then kicked a 29-yard field goal to tie it up.

But West Morris was stronger in the fourth quarter, which is part of the overall plan every summer.

“We are in better shape, that’s why we pulled away,” Corkery said. “Our coaches are great. They have us work double time and we outlast teams in the fourth quarter and that is what wins games.” 

So does consistent blocking from their entire O-Line and backfield.

The blocking was solid in building the first-half lead and then was strong once again after Mendham stormed back into it.

The line consisted of center Steven Chatfield, Borgia, and Brady Ashburn at guards, tackles A.J. Codella and Blake Parkinson-Gee, and tight ends Michael Pescatore and Gabe Morgan.

The backfield blocking of Corkery, Miragliotta, and Bentrewicz was one of the differences in the game. Every preseason, Hennelly insists that running backs had better block for their backfield mates. The penalty is a dear one if they choose not to: They will stay on the bench.

West Morris runners have taken that warning very seriously down through the years.  

Case in point: When Mendham was threatening to tie the game in the fourth quarter, Corkery broke off a big, 60-yard run. He scored a short time later, putting the game out of reach.

It couldn’t have come without Miragliotta clearing out some running room.

“I had a beautiful opening there,” Corkery said. “Peter had a nice running night and he gave me a beautiful block and I bounced outside.

“We take pride in our blocking, not our running.”

And they take pride in beating their sister school.

“The environment at Mendham is great,” Borgia said. “We like going there. They have a real good group of kids. The mayors were talking smack online. We knew that going into the game, they have been saying Mendham has their best team in 20 years and they were gonna take us out. We took that personally. We gave them everything we got.”

That was plenty good enough. Just like the last three years. Just like every year actually.

Rebuilding? It just doesn’t happen at West Morris.