THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 31

watched other Wild-cat quarterbacks, like former New York Jet and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.

“I see them running it and it motivates me to want to do it as well as they did,” Rodriguez said. “It blew my mind how well we did it. We just ran the ball right in their faces and they couldn’t stop us.”

Rodriguez said that he never played organized football before entering Kearny High School.

“I was more into skateboarding,” Rod-riguez said. “That was what I did.”

Rodriguez was also hanging out with a wrong crowd. It forced Rodriguez’s mother, Ma-ria, to step forward and put her foot down.

“She wants me to go to college,” Rodriguez said. “I started to think I could play football in college. I learned my lesson and realized that I couldn’t hang out with the wrong kids. I had to make a change in my life.”

Rodriguez has played quarterback in a triple option offense, then a fullback and now a

Wildcat QB. Defensively, Rodriguez has played linebacker and defensive end, but does not play defense when he’s call-ing the signals.

“I got a little taste of everything,” Rodriguez said. “I didn’t mind, because I love playing football. I like being with my teammates. They’re like my family. That’s why I stuck with it.”

Rodriguez is also a member of the Kearny wrestling team in the winter months.

“It helps my condi-tioning,” Rodriguez said of wrestling after foot-ball season is over. “It makes me stronger.”

Edwards likes what Rodriguez brings to the table.

“He’s a very respect-ful kid,” Edwards said. “He’s always at practice and he’s a very vocal kid. He’s become a leader.” That’s quite a compli-ment for someone who is only a junior.

“He also does well in the classroom,” Edwards said. “He’s the one getting us through the season.”

And yes, if the Kardi-nals get a win this week-end, they’re in the state playoffs for the very first time.

“None of these kids ever thought of being in the state playoffs,” Edwards said. “If we do win, we’re in. We definitely will talk about it. By telling them about it, it gives them some-thing to shoot for. It’s good that this team is getting some recogni-tion. They’re also getting some good support from the school and their families.”

Rodriguez was asked what it would be like to be part of the state playoffs.

“That would be so awesome,” Rodriguez said. “Next year, we’ll be even better. But this has been a fun year. I never expected all of this. “

Rodriguez has hopes of majoring in business management in college at either Montclair State or William Paterson. Of course, football will be a part of his life.

“I would love to play in college,” Robinson said. “I want to keep playing. Whatever posi-tion they want to put me at, I’ll play it. But this has been an awesome year. It’s one of the best years of my life.” And maybe the best is yet to come for Chris-tian Rodriguez.

DIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECTDIRECT RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYBUSINESS

Restaurant & Bar

973.481.3646

www.picnicrestaurant.com

Specializing in Seafood & BBQ Catering for All Occasions

& Takeout

224 GRANT AVENUE • EAST NEWARK

ECUAMERICAECUAMERICAECUAMERICAECUAMERICAECUAMERICAECUAMERICACAR SERVICE LLC.

973-344-0555973-344-5555

VIP CUSTOMER24 HOUR SERVICE

ERICKERICKCONSTRUCTION INC.

Specialized in Roofing • Siding • Gutters Windows Installation • RepairsScrap Metal • Rubbish Removal

973.343.1167Lic. 13VH04302300

www.erickconstructionnj.comFree Estimates - Fully Insured - Serving all NJ

AVAILABLE 24/7!

LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPYY&L HEALTH CARE

50 Midland Ave • Kearny, NJ

Specializing in Relief from: Pain, Stress, Tension, Fatigue & Insomnia

Full Body Wax and Foot Refl exology

WE HAVE FOUR HAND MASSAGES

201-428-1928

736 Kearny Ave., Kearny, NJ 201-955-2331

FREE COOKIE with this ad!

www.vamooseglutenfree.com

(one per customer)

Mi PueblitoMexican Restaurant

Open Sun - Thurs 10AM -10PM • Fri & Sat 10AM-10PM

412 Kearny Ave. • Kearny, NJ201-991-3330

Divorce $299 + Court Cost

Bankruptcy $450

+ Court Cost

877 Broad St. #208 Newark, NJ 07102

(973)273-1325www.divorcebankruptcyimmigration.com

To advertise in our Business Directory Call 201-991-1600

Manny’s Conveniencestore&deli

American & Hispanic FoodFresh Meat, Sandwiches, Coffee & More

695 Elm St. Kearny, NJ201-246-0110

WE ACCEPT FOOD STAMPS & CREDIT CARDS

Yoga Studio & Juice Bar

209 Frank E. Rodgers Blvd. South, Harrison, NJ 07029862-229-2940

Beginner & Intermediate Yoga|Meditation|Massage Fresh Squeezed Juices|Healthy Meals|Natural Facelift Classes

Stretch Studio & Café StretchHarrisonStretch Studio & Café StretchHarrisonYoga•Juice•Music•Art•Wellness•Community

parked for a long time in front of closed busi-nesses. After checking the vehicle’s registration, police learned that there was an active warrant from Bloomfield for the vehicle’s registered own-er who was the driver. Christina Hernandez, 38, of Nutley, was arrested but released, pending a

court date, after posting bail.

•••Police were called to a

Gless Ave. home where the owner had noticed damage to his front door. Police said they noticed chip marks on the bottom of the door frame and other damage suggesting someone had

tried to kick in the door but didn’t get inside.

•••A Conover Ave. resi-

dent told police they’d just returned home only to find that their back door had been tampered with. Detectives are investigating.

– Ron Leir

Officials from Harrison and BNE RealEstate Group cut the ribbon on Water’s Edge luxury rental building at 301 Dey St. From l., are: David J. Minno, Minno & Wasko Architects & Planners; Jonathan Schwartz, BNE executive vice president; BNE partner Alan Pines, Councilmen Larry Bennett and Anselmo Millan; BNE executive v.p.; Mayor James Fife and Councilman James Doran.

Water’s Edge opening

ATHLETE from 20

FROBISHER from 13