Friday, Nov. 6
PUBLIC SECTIONAL SEMIFINALS
North 1 Group 5
Piscataway 38, West Orange 35: Junior Patrick Novak booted a 29-yard field goal with one second left in regulation and third-seeded Piscatawaypulled off the dramatic win after squandering a 14-point late-third-quarter lead to advance to its first sectional final since 2018.
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The Chiefs, who will play host to fourth-seeded Irvington for the title next weekend, got an interception from Jahmir Snead after each team went 3-and-out on their first possessions. That set up Piscataway deep in Mountaineers territory and Landon Pernell cashed it in, hitting Colby Cotton with a seven-yard TD pass. Victor Nogueira, who was 5-for-5 kicking extra point then connected to make it 7-0.
The teams then traded touchdowns, with the Chiefs getting a seven-yard pass from Pernell to Devin Labega and a 43-yard Zaire Young scoring run, and it was 21-14 late in the second quarter, before Piscataway scored again from intermission, getting a five-yard TD catch from Zavian Ali to make it 28-14 at the break.
West Orange scored on their opening chance of the second half, but Young had the answer with a short scoring run as Piscataway re-opened the two-score lead at 35-21 with 3:18 remaining in the third quarter. But the Mountaineers weren’t done, scoring two straight TDs, tying it with 1:28 left in regulation. Pernell then piloted his team down the field, setting up a long field-goal chance, but an ill-timed West Orange penalty made it an easier kick. After the Mountaineers called timeout to try and ice Novak, he whipped a low, line-drive kick that looked like it wasn’t going to make it, but it somehow got over the crossbar with one second left.
West Orange made it interesting, running the kickoff back across midfield where Piscataway was whistled for a horse-collar tackle, giving the Mountaineers an untimed down from the Piscataway 28-yard line, but the Chiefs successfully defended the play to end it.
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Passaic Tech hands Elizabeth first loss, advances to final
Central Group 5
Rancocas Valley 42, Sayreville 0: Second-seeded Rancocas Valley built a 28-0 lead by halftime and never looked back, eliminating the third-seeded Bombers.
Old Bridge football forces 5 turnovers, shuts out Williamstown 35-0
North 2 Group 3
Wayne Hills 28, Somerville 11: A Connor Kossowicz 32-yard field goal gave sixth-seeded Somerville an early 3-0 advantage, but second-seeded Wayne Hills tallied four unanswered touchdowns, leading 21-3 art halftime and 28-3 after three quarters. The Pioneers then got a 17-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Boehm to James Hampton in the fourth quarter.
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Shabazz’s big plays sink Cranford 42-7 in football sectional semifinal
North 2 Group 2
Hoboken 35, Bernards 14: A 31-yard touchdown pass from Nolan Walsh to Zach Faverau gave third-seeded Bernards the early lead, but second-seeded Hoboken struck for five touchdowns before the Mountaineers re-visited the end zone in the fourth quarter. Walsh’s two-yard run provided the final score. He finished with 211 passing yards.
Waldwick/New Milford 27, New Providence 7: Kevin Reilly finished with 206 passing yard and a touchdown to Quentin Moore, but it was all the top seed otherwise as the Pioneers come up a game short of their third straight sectional final.
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Three interceptions swing South Group 1 semifinal to Pennsville
NON-PUBLIC B FIRST ROUND
Immaculata 38, Hudson Catholic 0: Kenneth Sharperson rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown, even delivering a passing touchdown, and fifth-seeded Immaculata cruised into the quarterfinals. Mike Haines and Benjamin Terry also ran in scores for the Spartans, who beat Hudson Catholic 41-6 two weeks ago in a regular-season contest. Yassen Abdus-Salaam caught the touchdown pass for Immaculata, which will visit No. 4 Donovan Catholic next weekend. Terry also scored on a 46-yard blocked punt return in the win, while Mitch Carr pitched in a 39-yard field goal.
Holy Spirit 19, St. Thomas Aquinas 0: Seventh-seeded Holy Spirit completely shut down the 10th-seeded St. Thomas attack, which finished with negative-38 rushing yards and just 64 thorough the air.
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METRO LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
Pingry 20, Rye Country Day 0: Alex Finkelstein caught two touchdown passes from Zach Zaslow and Langston McDonald notched a rushing TD and a fumble recovery and second-seeded Pingry returned to the Metro League final. Teddy Peacock and Conor Albert delivered sacks for the Big Blue, who will look to repeat as champions when they take on Poly Prep next weekend.
Simeon Pincus has covered NJ sports since 1997. He can be reached at SPincus@GannettNJ.com. Follow him on Twitter/X @SimeonPincus
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Football playoff roundup for Big Central Conference, local Central NJ
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
