Brendan Coffey, all 5 feet 8, 165 pounds of him, doesn’t look like the typical workhorse running back.
Until, of course, he wraps his arms around the football.
“You look at Brendan, and he’s not that physically imposing,” said Cresskill coach Kevin Quinn. “But he’s relentless when he plays. He just keeps coming and coming and coming.”
And that’s great news for the Cougars (4-2) as they continue their quest for a North 1, Group 1 playoff berth Friday night against NJIC Meadowlands Division rival Hasbrouck Heights (5-1). There’s little margin for error in one of North Jersey’s tightest playoff races, and the Cougars are going to need all the grit they can muster if they want to return to the championship game.
“I would say we learned a lot from last season,” Coffey said. “A lot of the guys had varsity experience last year, so they know what it’s like to play a playoff game. There’s pressure now, but our guys can deal with it.”
That includes Coffey, who made one of the biggest plays of the season Friday night. The senior capped a remarkable 9-minute, 26-second drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge with three seconds remaining, giving the Cougars a stirring, potential season-saving 18-15 victory over Park Ridge.
But that’s just another day at the office for Coffey, who is thriving as Cresskill’s go-to back
