Brendan Miller (’10)
Brendan Miller was an outstanding multi-sport athlete at Glen Rock High School, being a First Team, All-County shortstop on the school’s baseball team and a First Team, All-County football player.
Brendan Miller was one of the most honored baseball players in Glen Rock High School history. He initially pitched and played third base and then became the leader of the team’s defense at shortstop. He was also the team’s leadoff batter, using the combination of his speed and power to be called “the heart of the Panthers” (by The Record).
In Brendan’s sophomore, he batted .302 and was named to the Second Team, All-B-PSL King. The comparatively young team finished the season with an 11-11 record. In his junior year, he upped his average to .327 and was once again named to the Second Team, All-B-PSL King Division and the team had a similar .500 record.
In Brendan’s senior year, he led the 2010 Baseball Team to its first B-PSL King Championship in five years and to its best record (13-3 league and 20-7 overall) since the Hall of Fame Inducted 1999 Baseball Team. In the Group 1, Sectional Tournament, Glen Rock reached the quarterfinals before losing to Dumont.
Brendan finished the season with a .522 batting average and a .570 OBA; he also stole 13 bases. He was named to the First Team, All-County (by The Record). Fellow senior pitcher Aaron Weisberg was named to the Second Team, All-County (by The Record).
Brendan received equally outstanding honors in football, where he was also a three year starter and the most honored leader of his team.
In his sophomore year, Brendan alternated with and then backed up Hall of Fame Inductee Chuck Stewart at quarterback, as well as played slotback and wide receiver on offense and defensive back and safety on defense. The 2007 Football Team had a final record of 6-4. At the end of the season, Chuck was named to the First Team, All-B-PSL King as QB (as well as Third Team, All-County) and Brendan was named to the Second Team, All-B-PSL King as QB.
In his junior year, Brendan again backed up Chuck at quarterback, as well as again played slotback and wide receiver on offense and defensive back and safety on defense. He and Chuck also occasionally switched positions when they came out of a huddle, and he was credited with throwing several TDs to Chuck. One of the most memorable games for the 2008 Football Team was its mid-September away game victory over Paterson Catholic, a victory that snapped the defending Group 1, Non-Public Sectional Champion Paterson Catholic’s 50 game B-PSL winning streak. Adding to the excitement, Paterson Catholic scored a touchdown in the closing minutes to make the score 35-34 and opted to go for two points to win the game. Catholic gave the ball to its star runner but he was stopped initially by Andrew Lohr and then by Brendan to insure Glen Rock’s victory. Glen Rock then won all of its remaining regular season games, including a 40-0 victory over Manchester when Brendan replaced Chuck due to his illness. In the State Tournament, Glen Rock defeated Wallington 20-3 and then defeated Defending Champion Hasbrouck Heights 34-27. Unfortunately, they were then defeated by Mountain Lakes 35-21 in the Group 1, Sectional Championship game.
At the end of the season, Brendan joined several of his teammates who were also named to an All-County Team (by The Record). Seniors Mike Escalante, Paul Melicharek and Chuck were named to the First Team and Brendan and fellow juniors Matt Howard and Andrew Lohr, and senior Chip Morrel were named to the Second Team.
In his senior year, Brendan took over as the sole quarterback for a team going through significant changes. Hall of Fame Inductee Alan Deaett had retired as Head Coach after the prior season and Jim Kurz had assumed the position. Equally significantly, Brendan was one of the few returning starters from the prior season’s team. Seven offensive starters and eight defensive starters had graduated. Finally, because of the addition of four students, the school was now playing as a Group 2 school.
With Brendan and Matt as Co-Captains, the team’s fighting spirit was displayed in its very first game against Saddle Brook. The game was tied 7-7 after four quarters and went into overtime. After Glen Rock’s first drive appeared to have stalled with a fourth down and 3 yards to go on Saddle Brook’s 5 yard line, the Panthers opted to go for a win with a touchdown rather than kick the automatic field goal and risk Saddle Brook responding with a touchdown. Brendan delivered a touchdown pass to junior Brett Lederer and Glen Rock had a 14-7 victory. Another memorable game is the team’s 34-14 victory over Elmwood Park. In that game, Brendan completed 25 of 39 passes for 291 yards and 3 TDs and ran for another 116 yards and 2 TDs.
Glen Rock entered the 2009 Sectional Playoffs having suffered only two defeats, to League Champion Paterson Catholic and to Lodi (9-7 in driving rain on a muddy Glen Rock field before it was updated). In its opening game, it defeated Lenape Valley by a score of 41-14 with Brendan completing 14 of 19 passes for 205 yards and 2 TDs and rushing for 180 yards and 4 TDs. However, in the following Sectional Semifinal, Glen Rock was defeated by River Dell.
Brendan ended that season having passed for 1,540 yards and 19 TDs and having rushed for 1,129 yards and 12 TDs. He also intercepted 8 passes and was named to the First Team, All-County (by The Record) as a defensive back. Matt and Andrew also received First Team, All-County honors.
Brendan also was a three year varsity member in basketball and was one of three Co-Captains during his senior year. During his senior year, the 2010 Basketball Team had a 16-10 record and reached the Group 2, Sectional Quarterfinals.
In June 2010, the administration and coaches of Glen Rock High School recognized Brendan as the top male athlete in that year’s graduating class and gave him the esteemed Athlete of the Year Award.
In addition, the Bergen County YMCA subsequently honored Brendan as one of the very few Glen Rock athletes to be honored as an Outstanding Athlete of the Year.
After graduating from Glen Rock High School, Brendan continued his football career at Cornell as a two-time captain and three-time all-league honoree on the school’s sprint football team.