Avoid Surgery and Reduce Pain with
Are you experiencing knee pain symptoms such as popping, clicking, bone-on-bone grinding, achiness, or sharp stabs? You're not alone in this journey. Knee pain affects nearly 25% of adults in the United States, causing discomfort, swelling, and chronic pain that can hinder everyday activities like childcare, walking, and exercise. Shockingly, recent statistics from The American Academy of Family Physicians indicate a 65% increase in diagnosed knee pain cases.
In a world where invasive surgeries and prescription painkillers are often the default solutions, it's crucial to explore the effective non-invasive options that are available. These alternative treatments provide relief without the associated risks of surgery.
Today, many doctors still recommend invasive surgeries and prescription painkillers rather than exploring non-invasive options. While those treatments are needed in some circumstances, there are alternative treatments available that can help you overcome knee pain without needing to go under the knife.
NJ Sports Spine and Wellness' advanced knee pain treatment in South River, NJ gives men and women suffering from knee pain hope. Instead of relying on surgery, our team of doctors and physical therapists use non-invasive, highly effective treatments to help heal prevalent conditions such as:
Knee
many people can reduce their pain and improve their function, allowing them to return to normal daily activities. Plus, by taking preventative measures and seeking prompt care from our team, it's possible to reduce your risk of developing chronic knee pain and other painful knee conditions. If you've been searching for a non-invasive way to eliminate knee pain and get back to an active life, your journey to recovery starts here.
Let's take a closer look at some of the knee pain treatments available at NJ Sports Spine and Wellness, which all serve as great alternatives to knee replacement surgery.
Physical Therapy:
The field of Physical Therapy (PT) aims to rehabilitate individuals who have experienced injury, illness, or disability by restoring their mobility and function. Physical therapists cater to patients of various ages and capabilities, ranging from young athletes to senior citizens, in order to help them surpass physical limitations and improve their standard of living with advanced knee pain treatment in South River, NJ.
At NJ Sports Spine and Wellness, our physical therapy program was founded on a patient-centric philosophy, where physical therapists work closely with patients to get a deep understanding of their goals, preferences, and capabilities. In doing so, they can create a tailor-made treatment strategy to address their unique knee pain with the goal of avoiding a knee replacement. Treatment may involve exercises that are therapeutic in nature and can include:
This unique knee pain solution involves physical therapists using skilled manual therapy techniques to help improve your joint range of motion while simultaneously reducing your knee pain.
During joint mobilization, a physical therapist applies targeted pressures or forces to a joint in specific directions to improve its mobility. The intensity of the force applied can vary, and it is adjusted based on the patient's comfort level. Joint mobilization is generally pain-free.
Advanced Mechanics and Technology:
While knee pain is a common symptom that affects millions of Americans every year, no two cases of knee pain are ever exactly alike. Some types of knee injuries require non-traditional solutions. At New Jersey Sports Spine and Wellness, we offer a range of treatments that leverage mechanics and technology to help patients recover from injuries while treating inflammation and pain as well as resolve the root cause of the pain.
The AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill is equipped with NASA Differential Air Pressure (DAP) technology, which is a precise air calibration system that uses the user's actual body weight to enhance rehabilitation and training. By utilizing a pressurized air chamber, the AlterG allows patients and athletes to move without any pain or restrictions.
This advanced knee pain treatment in South River, NJ uniformly reduces gravitational load and body weight up to 80% in precise 1% increments. The results can be incredible, with patients reporting benefits such as:
The AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill can monitor various metrics such as speed, gait pattern, stride length, and weight distribution. With real-time feedback and video monitoring, your rehabilitation team can promptly and accurately identify issues and pain points or monitor your progress throughout your knee pain rehabilitation journey.
One of the key benefits of this cutting-edge equipment is that it replicates natural walking and movement patterns without the artificial feel that hydrotherapy or harnesses create. This makes it an excellent choice for faster recovery after knee injuries or surgeries, as it allows for early mobilization while also preserving strength. Furthermore, it is ideal for sports recovery as athletes can use it for physical conditioning maintenance.
Our advanced treatment modalities for knee pain include laser therapy, which harnesses the revolutionary power of light through photobiomodulation (PBM). LiteCure⢠low-level laser therapy is available for acute and chronic types of knee pain and can be hugely beneficial when coupled with physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic care, and sports recovery care.
PBM is a medical treatment that harnesses the power of light to stimulate the body's natural healing abilities. The photons from the light penetrate deep into the tissue and interact with mitochondria, which results in a boost in energy production. This interaction sets off a biological chain reaction that increases cellular metabolism. Utilizing low-level light therapy has been shown to:
Exclusive Access to
At NJ Sports Spine & Wellness, we know that every patient requires a personalized approach to chronic knee pain and condition management. Sometimes, our patients need access to pain management professionals, who can offer relief in conjunction with physical therapy and other solutions like low-level laser therapy.
Two of the most common services we offer for pain management includes acupuncture which can assist in avoiding knee replacement surgery.
Acupuncture is a common treatment for knee pain that involves inserting thin needles into specific points in your knee. This ancient Chinese medicine has gained popularity in Western culture due to its effectiveness in treating various conditions with minimal side effects.
Acupuncture works by stimulating the nervous system to release various biochemicals, including endorphins and other neurotransmitters. The release of these chemicals helps to reduce inflammation, decrease pain perception, and improve overall blood circulation.
Multiple studies have shown that acupuncture can be effective in treating knee pain caused by a variety of conditions, including osteoarthritis and injuries related to physical activity like running. Acupuncture can also help reduce inflammation, improve muscle function, and decrease pain perception, making it a viable treatment on its own or as an addition to traditional treatment methods like physical therapy.
When undergoing acupuncture, a professional acupuncturist will insert thin needles into specific acupoints on the skin. These needles are left in place for roughly 20 to 30 minutes and may be gently stimulated for an enhanced effect. Patients might experience a slight tingle or warmth at the needle insertion site, but overall, acupuncture is considered a painless procedure.
Acupuncture has been a trusted and effective treatment option for thousands of years. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes acupuncture as a legitimate form of healthcare, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has even funded research studies to explore its efficacy for a range of medical conditions. To learn more about acupuncture for knee pain, contact NJSSW today.
Acupuncture is a common treatment for knee pain that involves inserting thin needles into specific points in your knee. This ancient Chinese medicine has gained popularity in Western culture due to its effectiveness in treating various conditions with minimal side effects.
Acupuncture works by stimulating the nervous system to release various biochemicals, including endorphins and other neurotransmitters. The release of these chemicals helps to reduce inflammation, decrease pain perception, and improve overall blood circulation.
Multiple studies have shown that acupuncture can be effective in treating knee pain caused by a variety of conditions, including osteoarthritis and injuries related to physical activity like running. Acupuncture can also help reduce inflammation, improve muscle function, and decrease pain perception, making it a viable treatment on its own or as an addition to traditional treatment methods like physical therapy.
When undergoing acupuncture, a professional acupuncturist will insert thin needles into specific acupoints on the skin. These needles are left in place for roughly 20 to 30 minutes and may be gently stimulated for an enhanced effect. Patients might experience a slight tingle or warmth at the needle insertion site, but overall, acupuncture is considered a painless procedure.
Acupuncture has been a trusted and effective treatment option for thousands of years. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes acupuncture as a legitimate form of healthcare, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has even funded research studies to explore its efficacy for a range of medical conditions. To learn more about acupuncture for knee pain, contact NJSSW today.
When it comes to knee pain therapies and treatments, getting a knee replacement should be last on your list. Why put your body through such trauma if you haven't tried other non-invasive treatment options? Whether you're an athlete trying to work through a knee injury or you're over 65 and are dealing with osteoarthritis, NJ Sports Spine and Wellness can help.
It all starts with an introductory consultation at our office in Matawan or Marlboro. During your first visit, we'll talk to you about your knee pain symptoms, the goals you have in mind, and the advanced knee pain treatments available to you at our practice. From there, it's only a matter of time before you get back to a healthy, active lifestyle.
Every day you wait can worsen your knee condition. Contact us today and let our team help get you on the road to recovery and life with painful knees.
CHECK BACK THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. THIS ROUNDUP WILL BE UPDATED AS GAMES ARE REPORTED!SATURDAY'S RESULTSSpotswood 35, South River 0: Sebastian Saracino rushed for two touchdowns and Ryan Foster returned a punt for a 47-yard touchdown to pace Spotswood (3-1). Saracino finished with 74 yards on seven carries, including scoring runs of 9 and 50 yards. Semir Tolbert-Brimage rushed for a 3-yard touchdown and threw a 9-yard score to Vinny Young. Jon Regan adde...
CHECK BACK THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. THIS ROUNDUP WILL BE UPDATED AS GAMES ARE REPORTED!
SATURDAY'S RESULTS
Spotswood 35, South River 0: Sebastian Saracino rushed for two touchdowns and Ryan Foster returned a punt for a 47-yard touchdown to pace Spotswood (3-1). Saracino finished with 74 yards on seven carries, including scoring runs of 9 and 50 yards. Semir Tolbert-Brimage rushed for a 3-yard touchdown and threw a 9-yard score to Vinny Young. Jon Regan added 50 rushing yards on four carries. South River fell to 1-3.
'Hard-fought team win': Woodbridge holds off Colonia in shootout
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Cranford 38, South Plainfield 0: Gabriel Worrell ran for three touchdowns, and Amari Petgrave ran in another and Cranford rolled to 2-1. Joseph Acinapura recorded a punt return for a touchdown in the win, while Dylan Jones and Luciano Fiorenza each grabbed an interception for the Cougars. Christiano Ambrosio went 5-for-5 kicking extra points, adding a field goal for Cranford, which held South Plainfield (1-3) to just 62 yards of total offense.
Bernards 33, Voorhees 13: Nolan Walsh hit Jack Mora with two touchdown passes and Patrick Carlisle ran in two scores and Bernards improved to 4-0. Noah Ochab added a long field goal for the Mountaineers. Sam Meekins connected with Rylan Benitez on a pair of second-half touchdown passes for Voorhees (2-2), including an 80-yard bomb.
More:Ridge football snaps 9-game streak vs. Phillipsburg behind huge game from Aiden Stieglitz
More:Football is back in the borough. Highland Park beats Brearly to stay undefeated
St. Joseph-Metuchen 21, Elizabeth 20: Three players scored touchdowns for St. Joseph (3-0), which built a 21-0 lead by halftime, but Elizabeth kept fighting, scoring three times in the second half, but came up a point short. Javon Hudson, Dylan Pierce and Justin Scaramuzzo all scored rushing TDs for the undefeated Falcons, while Jalais Mendoza scored twice on the ground for the Minutemen (2-2), who also got an Arique Fleming-to-Antoine Bount TD pass.
More:Junior quarterback leads Westfield football over Union
Ridgewood 14 Piscataway 13: Jahai Johnson returned an interception 76 yards for a first-half touchdown, and James Brodley’s 41-yard TD pass from Landon Pernell with 6:44 left put the Chiefs up 13-7, but Ridgewood found the winner with 2:32 remaining, sending Piscataway to 2-2.
Monroe 34, East Brunswick 12: Logan Fotiadis scored twice on the ground and caught a TD pass from Brandon Macaluso en route to Monroe’s lopsided win. Tommaso DeMetrio pitched in two field goals for the Falcons (2-2), while Macaluso also connected with Ryan Bayoumy on a scoring pass. Sean Christie ran in a score for East Brunswick (1-3), adding a 55-yard touchdown pass to Felix Munoz.
Hillsborough 35, Sayreville 0: Jackson Jankowicz ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns, adding a 19-yard TD reception from Ryan Seamon and Hillsborough cruised to 2-2. Seamon, who finished 14-for-25 for 166 yards and two scores, also hit Chimmy Ozokopor with a three-yard scoring pass, while Ryan Baker added a two-yard run for the Raiders. Mateo Del Toro paced Boro with 11 tackles, while Jankowicz and Andrew Advani each snagged interceptions in the win. Sayreville is 1-3.
Somerville 32, Rahway 16: Terrell Mitchell made four visits to the end zone, scoring on three touchdown runs, including a 44-yard jaunt, and adding a 60-yard punt return for a score and Somerville stayed undefeated at 4-0. The game was 8-3 Pioneers at halftime, as Rahway (3-1) gave a good accounting of itself. Anthony Lopez kicked a 37-yard field goal to get the Indians going, before Ja’Quan Robinson ran one in from four yards out and Jayvon Cooper added a 13-yard scoring run on the game’s final play for Rahway.
South Hunterdon 40, Bound Brook 14: Edward Cooper scored three touchdowns and freshman Kellen Healy added two scores and South Hunterdon improved to 2-1. Dayton Ratkowski scored on an interception return for the Eagles. Bound Brook is 1-2.
Bridgewater-Raritan 28, Hunterdon Central 20: Declan Kurdyla threw four first-half touchdown passes, including two to Dylan Tierney, and Bridgewater-Raritan (2-2) built its 28-20 lead by halftime and grabbed the American Silver win after a scoreless second half. Gio Velez got things started with a first-quarter TD for Hunterdon Central (2-2), before the teams exchanged TDs until it was 21-20 Panthers in the final seconds of the second quarter. Jordan Johnson then caught a 10-yard strike from Kurdyla with 19 seconds to go before halftime, before Joe Squiccianni made it four straight PATs to make it 28-20. Tierney also caught a 73-yard scoring toss for BR, while Denzel Amoafo’s 70-yard catch and run for a score put the Panthers up for good. James Mongno grabbed a 20-yard TD pass from Drew Cella for Central, which also got a 22-yard scoring catch form Nick Vazquez.
Plainfield 41, Perth Amboy 0: Kamai Lowery threw for 224 yards and three touchdowns, adding another on a 12-yard run, and EJ Brown gobbled up 137 rushing yards and two scores and Plainfield had no trouble moving to 2-2. Transfer Jareel Calhoun, making his Cardinals debut, grabbed a 38-yard scoring pass for the Cardinals, who also got long TD receptions from Al-Khabir Bethune and Joel Cordoba. Jaylen Folsten finished 5-for-6 kicking extra points in the win, while Bethune snagged an interception and Ala Meen Watkins and Chance Fitz recorded sacks for Plainfield. Perth Amboy is 1-3.
Delaware Valley 17, JP Stevens 0: Kelton Ibach ran in a touchdown and hit Eric Klemmer with a scoring pass for another to fuel Delaware Valley. Brayden Costello pitched in a field goal for the Terriers (2-1). The Hawks fell to 1-2.
North Hunterdon 41, Montgomery 7: Cole O’Connor rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns, catching another, and North Hunterdon snapped a 13-game losing streak, giving second-year head coach CJ Robinson his first win. Nick Ramaci threw a touchdown pass and ran in two more, while Zach Davis grabbed the other for the Lions, who improved to 1-3 on the season after going 0-9 last year. Jack Kristanson hit Trey McFadden with a 12-yrd scoring pass for Montgomery (0-4).
AL Johnson 35, Roselle 8: Ryan George ran for 75 yards and two touchdowns, while Robert Gallagher added 118 rushing yards and a score to power A.L. Johnson (3-0). Anthony Ayer and Joshua Maltez-Torres also ran in TDs for the Crusaders, while Brandon Puryear connected with Damari Julius on a TD pass for Roselle (0-4).
Roselle Park 27, Dayton 20: Nick Salas ran for 109 yards two touchdowns, while Alfris Garcia caught a 30-yard scoring reception from Anthony Damiano and added one on the ground and Roselle Park (1-2) got into the win column.Dayton is 0-3.
Middlesex 27, Manville 14: Quarterback Dom Parenti scored four times on runs and the Middlesex defense led by Joey Lawler, Jonathan Hines, Jax Jarvis, and Sean Downes had several goal line stands and the Blue Jays improved to 3-1. Manville (2-2) was driving late in the first half, trialing 14-0, but sophomore LB Jojo Pham picked a ball off to end the threat. Manville capitalized on a fumble in the third, getting a scoring run from Na’Quavere Thomas to make it a one-score game, but Parenti ran one in from 28 yards out to put his team back up by two scores. Josh D’Ambrosio then scored for the Mustangs, who then trailed 21-14, and the Blue Jays then fumbled again, giving Manville great field position, but the defense stood fast holding the Mustangs to a missed field goal attempt. Parenti broke free for a 72-yard run on the ensuing drive to end it.
Hackley School 22, Pingry 14: Ryan Moye threw two touchdown passes, connecting with Jack Moye and Rafferty Harris, respectively, but Pingry fell to 1-3. Sam Nkansah had an interception for the Big Blue.
Immaculata 35, Weequahic 0: Cole Hayden threw for 90 yards and two touchdown passes, adding 116 rushing yards and a score and Immaculata scored the shutout win to improve to 3-0. Daysir Spille and Jahmier Black also scored rushing TDs for the Spartans, who got two long touchdown receptions from Quinn Hayden (35 and 43).
Old Bridge 21, South Brunswick 6: Brody Nugent connected on 11-of-17 passes for 155 yards and two scores, and the junior added 110 rushing yards and another touchdown and Old Bridge sent South Brunswick to its first loss. Jaden Griffith was on the receiving end of a touchdown toss in the win and Zahmir Evans paced the defense with 15 tackles and two sacks, as the Knights moved to 2-2. The Vikes are 3-1.
St. Thomas 56, Franklin 6: Chukwuma Odoh and Chase Young each ran for two touchdowns, and Ca’Si Thomas added another rushing score and St. Thomas rolled to 3-1. Zymere Weaver and Roman Blanks each threw TD passes for the Trojans, both going to Josiah Zayas. Young also picked off two passes in the win. Franklin is 3-1.
Watchung Hills 24, Linden 0: Nick Valenti recorded 10 tackles to lead the defensive effort for Watchung Hills (3-1). Jake Arakelian pitched in eight tackles and a sack in the victory. Lucas Garcia totaled 104 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Mason Kelly connected with Dillon Nunes for the other Warriors score. Linden fell to 1-3.
North Brunswick 20, Edison 13: Tommy Koroma rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries as North Brunswick held off Edison’s comeback for the win. Koroma scored on an 80-yard run for the Raiders (1-3) and Jahir Dawud added a touchdown run. Abdul Kargbo had two sacks, a forced fumble and five quarterback hurries and Xavier Hullum had three tackles for losses. Edison (1-3) scored 13 points in the fourth quarter via a Nykier Eato 86-yard kickoff return and a Savion Mitchell 56-yard punt return.
Friday’s other scores
Governor Livingston 41, North Plainfield 12
Hillside 28, Scotch Plains-Fanwood 10
J.F. Kennedy 40, New Brunswick 0
THURSDAY'S RESULTS
New Providence 22, Metuchen 0: A.J. Whitehead rushed for 130 yards on 22 carries and T.J. Munn rushed for a 6-yard touchdown and thew a 33-yard scoring pass to Owen Silver as the Pioneers earned the Patriot Silver win. Gianni Carreno added a 9-yard touchdown run for new Providence (3-1). Metuchen fell to 3-1.
Belvidere 34, Dunellen 0: Kyle Blew threw three touchdown passes and Elijah White scored three times to boost the County Seaters (3-1). Blew tossed two scoring passes to White and one to Mason Chamberlain. White added a touchdown on a punt return and Jake Enderley crossed the goal line on a run. Blew also ran in a 2-point conversion. Luke Pettersen led Dunellen (0-4) with eight tackles and Ben Howard had seven.
Kofi Amankwaa filed several fake immigration documents under the Violence Against Women Act. He owes millions in restitution. Patch StaffEAST BRUNSWICK, NJ – A South River resident and a Bronx-based former immigration attorney pled guilty to large-scale immigration fraud and will pay millions in restitution, Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York said.Kofi Amankwaa, 70, filed fraudulent immigration documents under the Violence Against Women Act (“VAWA”) and p...
Patch Staff
EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ – A South River resident and a Bronx-based former immigration attorney pled guilty to large-scale immigration fraud and will pay millions in restitution, Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York said.
Kofi Amankwaa, 70, filed fraudulent immigration documents under the Violence Against Women Act (“VAWA”) and pled guilty on Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.
As part of the plea, he has agreed to forfeit $13,389,000 and pay $16,503,425 in restitution to his victims, authorities said.
From September 2016 through November 2023, Amankwaa and others met with clients and instructed them to sign fraudulent Form I-360 VAWA Petitions falsely stating that the clients were abused by their U.S. citizen children, according to court documents. As the attorney preparer, Amankwaa also signed the petitions, under penalty of perjury.
He then used the filings to request advance parole travel documents for his clients so they could travel abroad temporarily and return. Upon receiving the advance parole travel documents, Amankwaa would ask his clients to travel abroad and return to the U.S, court documents said.
He used the fraudulently procured advance parole as a basis for his clients to apply for lawful permanent resident status, authorities said.
According to authorities, Amankwaa carried out this illegal scheme knowing that his clients had not, in fact, been abused by their children or without ever asking whether any such abuse took place.
He was often unsuccessful in obtaining lawful permanent resident status for his clients because their immigration applications were denied on the basis of fraud, among other reasons, authorities said.
Amankwaa charged his clients between $3,000 and $6,000 for his services, plus administrative fees, court documents said.
In November 2023, following numerous complaints by clients, Amankwaa’s license to practice law in the State of New York was suspended, and in August 2024, he was disbarred.
“Amankwaa’s actions undermined our U.S. immigration system, exploited VAWA — a law that allows noncitizen victims of domestic abuse a path to lawful permanent residence status — and victimized vulnerable clients in the process,” Williams said in a statement. “Today’s guilty plea highlights this Office’s dedication to holding accountable those who abuse the trust placed in them as attorneys and fraudulently use our immigration system as a tool for their own financial gain.”
Anyone who believes they or their family member is a victim of VAWA fraud Amankwaa can contact USANYS.VAWAFraud@usdoj.gov.
Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
Kofi Amankwaa filed several fake immigration documents under the Violence Against Women Act. He owes millions in restitution. Patch StaffEAST BRUNSWICK, NJ – A South River resident and a Bronx-based former immigration attorney pled guilty to large-scale immigration fraud and will pay millions in restitution, Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York said.Kofi Amankwaa, 70, filed fraudulent immigration documents under the Violence Against Women Act (“VAWA”) and p...
Patch Staff
EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ – A South River resident and a Bronx-based former immigration attorney pled guilty to large-scale immigration fraud and will pay millions in restitution, Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York said.
Kofi Amankwaa, 70, filed fraudulent immigration documents under the Violence Against Women Act (“VAWA”) and pled guilty on Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.
As part of the plea, he has agreed to forfeit $13,389,000 and pay $16,503,425 in restitution to his victims, authorities said.
From September 2016 through November 2023, Amankwaa and others met with clients and instructed them to sign fraudulent Form I-360 VAWA Petitions falsely stating that the clients were abused by their U.S. citizen children, according to court documents. As the attorney preparer, Amankwaa also signed the petitions, under penalty of perjury.
He then used the filings to request advance parole travel documents for his clients so they could travel abroad temporarily and return. Upon receiving the advance parole travel documents, Amankwaa would ask his clients to travel abroad and return to the U.S, court documents said.
He used the fraudulently procured advance parole as a basis for his clients to apply for lawful permanent resident status, authorities said.
According to authorities, Amankwaa carried out this illegal scheme knowing that his clients had not, in fact, been abused by their children or without ever asking whether any such abuse took place.
He was often unsuccessful in obtaining lawful permanent resident status for his clients because their immigration applications were denied on the basis of fraud, among other reasons, authorities said.
Amankwaa charged his clients between $3,000 and $6,000 for his services, plus administrative fees, court documents said.
In November 2023, following numerous complaints by clients, Amankwaa’s license to practice law in the State of New York was suspended, and in August 2024, he was disbarred.
“Amankwaa’s actions undermined our U.S. immigration system, exploited VAWA — a law that allows noncitizen victims of domestic abuse a path to lawful permanent residence status — and victimized vulnerable clients in the process,” Williams said in a statement. “Today’s guilty plea highlights this Office’s dedication to holding accountable those who abuse the trust placed in them as attorneys and fraudulently use our immigration system as a tool for their own financial gain.”
Anyone who believes they or their family member is a victim of VAWA fraud Amankwaa can contact USANYS.VAWAFraud@usdoj.gov.
Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
SOUTH RIVER, NJ – It was a tale of two halves for Roselle Park in Middlesex County on Saturday afternoon, as the Panthers lost their second straight game to start the season to South River, 45-19.On a hot, sunny day, both offenses were slow to start as the first quarter ended in a scoreless tie. One of the last plays of the opening quarter was a 53-yard by Alfris Garcia that set the Panthers with a first and goal.A few plays later, on the first snap of the second quarter, Nick Salas punched it in for the Panthers from thr...
SOUTH RIVER, NJ – It was a tale of two halves for Roselle Park in Middlesex County on Saturday afternoon, as the Panthers lost their second straight game to start the season to South River, 45-19.
On a hot, sunny day, both offenses were slow to start as the first quarter ended in a scoreless tie. One of the last plays of the opening quarter was a 53-yard by Alfris Garcia that set the Panthers with a first and goal.
A few plays later, on the first snap of the second quarter, Nick Salas punched it in for the Panthers from three yards out to give the visitors a 7-0 lead after the Adrian Caraballo extra point was good.
Sign Up for FREE Roselle Park Newsletter
Get local news you can trust in your inbox.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
South River would quickly respond, however, with a solid 68-yard touchdown drive highlighted by Aiden Velez’s 34-yard touchdown run and successful two-point conversion to give the Rams an 8-7 lead.
As defense oriented as the first quarter was, the second quarter erupted with offense from both sides. After the Velez touchdown run Roselle Park was set up with quality field position after Garcia returned the kickoff across midfield to the South River 43-yard line. Roselle Park was slowed at first but Anthony Damiano found Garcia for a beautiful 35-yard touchdown pass to retake the lead for the Panthers at 13-8.
The teams continued to play tug of war with the lead in the second quarter as the Rams grabbed the lead back from Roselle Park on their next drive. The Rams were just shy of midfield when they ran the old “hook and lateral play,” as quarterback Orion Familia connected with receiver Dominic Harris on a short pass near the sideline before Harris flipped it back to a streaking Kah’mori Cotto who outraced the entire Panthers defense to the end zone to give the Rams the lead again, 16-13 with just over two minutes left before halftime.
Roselle Park again responded in barely 60 seconds as Salas scored his second touchdown of the quarter on a 75-yard sprint to the endzone as the Panthers took a 19-16 lead into the halftime locker rooms.
The second half is where things started to go awry for the Panthers. South River had the ball first and used up nearly five minutes of clock time before Cotto ran in a 30-yard touchdown to put the Rams ahead, 24-19. On the ensuing kickoff, the South River place kicker hit a line drive at one of the front men in the return group for Roselle Park that the Panthers were not expecting. The kickoff deflected off the Panthers special teamer and South River recovered at midfield.
A few plays later Cotto caught a pass from Familia and took it 50-yards for his third touchdown of the day to expand the South River lead to 32-19 after Velez converted the two-point conversion for the fourth time in as many tries.
In less than half a quarter of elapsed game tim Roselle Park went from leading by three to be doing by 13. Things continued to be a struggle for the Panthers as the next three possessions resulted in fumbles being lost to South River, making any attempt at a comeback extremely difficult. South River scored two more touchdowns courtesy of Velez as what was once a promising outlook for Roselle Park turned into a blowout loss.
Saturday afternoon’s loss was like watching two different teams between the first and second half performances by Roselle Park. The Panthers rushed for over 200 yards in the first half but could not continue the ground and pound game as the team dealt with small injuries and brief absences from a variety of players.
“In the second half we need to be able to somehow keep our players on the field,” Dunkerton said. “We have to be able to make sure that the players we need on the field are on the field and that the second string is properly prepared when they get a chance to go in and that is a challenge.”
Through the first two games of the season defense has been a major issue for Roselle Park. Against Middlesex on September 5 and Saturday afternoon against South River the Panthers were susceptible to giving up long plays both on the ground and through the air. Through two games, Roselle Park is giving up an average of over 43 points per game and has struggled to strong quality defensive drives together. Dunkerton acknowledged that he and his staff need to do a better job of relaying the game plan and expectations to the players in the hope that the defense will improve with an increase in communication.
“I think it is inexperience,” the Roselle Park head coach stated. “We have to figure out as a coaching staff, me in particular, I have to come up with a more effective way to communicate and be able to get these guys to understand what we are trying to do. It is what it is, if we are outmatched, we are outmatched, but we have to figure out a better way of communicating schematically.”
At 0-2 Dunkerton is not worried about the long-term outlook of the team but rather focused on improving on a week-to-week basis. Roselle Park’s struggles through the first two games of the season have not changed Dunkerton’s mindset as he knows that if the Panthers are going to get better it will come one step at a time.
“We are not worried about turning it around, we are worried about one week at a time,” Dunkerton told TAPinto Roselle Park. “We are worried about practice and showing up to get ready to work on Tuesday. We just have to get ready for the next game. I am not thinking about turning the season around, we are worried about next week and that’s it.”
Read more Sports news in Roselle Park:
Follow TAPinto Roselle Park on Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for email news alerts and download the TAPinto mobile app for Android or iOS.
Interested in marketing your business on TAPinto Roselle Park? Email jdealessi@tapinto.net.
By Lou MonacoSOUTH RIVER -- South Plainfield junior running back Dominic Massaro had a game for the ages.Massaro totaled 320 all-purpose yards with two rushing touchdowns, one kickoff return for a score and one interception return for a score to power South Plainfield to a 35-6 road victory at South River on Saturday, Oct. 19.Massaro, who had eight carries for 101 yards, had two rush TDs of 18 yards (first quarter) and eight yards (third quarter), a 70-yard kickoff return for a score in the first quarte...
By Lou Monaco
SOUTH RIVER -- South Plainfield junior running back Dominic Massaro had a game for the ages.
Massaro totaled 320 all-purpose yards with two rushing touchdowns, one kickoff return for a score and one interception return for a score to power South Plainfield to a 35-6 road victory at South River on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Massaro, who had eight carries for 101 yards, had two rush TDs of 18 yards (first quarter) and eight yards (third quarter), a 70-yard kickoff return for a score in the first quarter and recorded a 74-yard interception return for another score in the third quarter.
Sign Up for FREE South Plainfield Newsletter
Get local news you can trust in your inbox.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Oh yeah, he also had eight total tackles on defense.
Senior wide receiver A.J. Perales had a 25-yard touchdown catch from senior quarterback Ryan Balent in the third quarter to complete the Tigers' scoring.
"Dom had an unbelievable game. He and his team worked hard to make it happen. Four touchdowns, two running the ball (18 and eight yards), 1 interception (74 yards), and 1 kick return (70 yards). He also had eight carries for 101 yards and one reception for 14 yards. Add to that, he had eight tackles, knocked down a pass, and had a punt return for 29 yards," said South Plainfield head coach William Hamilton
.
This week, South Plainfield will complete their two-game road trip with a visit to Iselin Kennedy (3-5) at 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26. The Mustangs have lost three of their last four games, including a 36-32 road loss at Middlesex on Friday, Oct. 18.
Junior quarterback Richie Trotman completed 14-of-26 passes for 220 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss. Junior running back Fiheem Howell, Jr. had 30 carries for 140 yards, junior wide receiver Grant Lorentzen had eight catches for 132 yards with two TDs and senior wide receiver Lee Tobon had five receptions for 133 yards and another two scores.
South Plainfield had won two straight against Iselin Kennedy, including a 26-7 road win on Sept. 1, 2023
.
"We are excited about the game with JFK. It's a meaningful game. If we win, we get a share of the United Silver Division and the opportunity to finish the season with a .500 record," said Hamilton.