Public sectional champions were crowned all over the state on Friday night, and JSZ has wall-to-wall coverage! Check back throughout the late night as the highlights are posted!
Ramapo 28 Northern Highlands 27 (OT) | North 1 Group 4 Final
A heroic overtime goal line stand from the Raiders’ defense helped deliver the program’s third-straight sectional championship in a grudge match against their biggest rival. Tied 21-21 going into overtime, top-seeded Ramapo (10-1) took the lead with a Liam Hayward touchdown. Tucker Kanning responded with a touchdown for second-seeded Northern Highlands (8-3) but the game-winning two-point conversion was snuffed out by Ramapo’s defense to seal the win. Casey Grusser had a pair of touchdown passes in the win while Hayward had two rushing touchdowns. Kanning and Chase Calarco combined to rush for 282 yards and three scores in the Highlanders’ loss. Ramapo advances to the Group 4 state semifinal and will go on the road next week to face Phillipsburg.
JSZ’s Jay Cook has all the twists and turns from another wild one in Franklin Lakes:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Ramapo is made possible by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Northern Highlands is brought to you by American Dream in East Rutherford.
Bridgewater-Raritan 21 Bayonne 14 | North 2 Group 5 Final
Bridgewater-Raritan made history on Friday night, rallying past Bayonne to claim the North 2 Group 5 sectional championship, the first title in program history. Jamelle Jones jump-started the comeback with a scoop-and-score to open the second half, while Jahmier Black powered the Panthers on the ground. The defining moment came late in the fourth when Declan Kurdyla hit Jack Cifuentes for a 58-yard go-ahead touchdown that sent Basilone Field into a frenzy. Chance Fischer finished with two rushing scores for Bayonne (8-4). Bridgewater-Raritan (9-3) advances to face PCTI in next week’s Group 5 state semifinal.
JSZ’s Nick Doll has the highlights and reaction from Bridgewater:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Bayonne is brought to you by Jersey City Medical Center.
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Bridgewater-Raritan is brought to you by Princeton Orthopaedic Associates.
Washington Twp. 38 Old Bridge 7 | Central Jersey Group 5 Final
The Minutemen delivered another dominant performance to take down the Knights and bring home its second-straight sectional championship. Andrew Osborn went for 79 yards and three touchdowns to lead the way offensively in the victory. Isaac Parra opened the game with an interception, then delivered a game-breaking pick-six in the third for top-seeded Washington Twp. (12-0). Brody Nugent connected with Michael Chiarella for a 23-yard touchdown in the loss for third-seeded Old Bridge (10-2). Washington Township will host Kingsway in a Group 5 state semifinal next week.
JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights and reaction from Sewell:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Washington Township is made possible by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Old Bridge is brought to you by RWJ Barnabas Health at Old Bridge.
Kingsway 38 Atlantic City 21 | South Jersey Group 5 Final
The third-seeded Dragons bended but refused to break, forcing a number of turnovers and stopping top-seeded AC in the red zone all night long. Andrew Wands had an interception to help lead the way as Kingsway (10-2) captured the third sectional crown in program history. David Oravetz threw a pair of touchdown passes, while Cole DeNick rushed for over 160 yards to pace the offense. Dontaye Thompson caught a TD and rushed for a score for the Vikings (9-2) in the loss. Kingsway advances to face Washington Township in the Group 5 state semifinals next weekend.
JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the highlights and reaction from Atlantic City:
Holmdel 41 Seneca 20 | Central Jersey Group 3 Final
Jack Cannon had 301 yards of combined offense with two touchdown runs and two touchdown passes to reach 113 in his sensational career to lead the Hornets to their first ever sectional title in 53 years of playing football. Cannon set the tone on the second play from scrimmage with a 70-yard bomb to James Murphy and had a tremendous 65-yard TD run in the third quarter. Matt Scheinman had a pair of TD’s for Holmdel (9-2) who will host the winner of Mainland and Cedar Creek next week in a Group 3 state semifinal. Anthony Tirico had two TD runs and a TD pass for Seneca who finish the year with a 9-3 mark.
JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the full coverage from Holmdel:
Jersey Sports Zone’s Shore Conference Game of the Week is brought to you by ACI Medical & Dental School.
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Holmdel is brought to you by Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch.
Camden 43 Wall 7 | Central Jersey Group 2 Final
The dominant postseason run for The High continued as the Panthers erupted for 36 second-half points to claim the program’s fourth sectional title—their third in four seasons. Ahmad Jones was outstanding through the air, throwing for 269 yards and three touchdowns. Syracuse commit Ibn Muhammad led all receivers with 145 yards and two long scores. After falling to Rumson-Fair Haven in last year’s sectional final, top-seeded Camden (9–2) defeated Wall (8–3) to move within two wins of a state championship. The High will host South Group 2 champion Haddonfield in next week’s semifinal.
JSZ’s Tyler Mroz has the highlights + reaction from Camden:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Wall is brought to you by Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch.
Westwood 32 Ramsey 6 | North 1 Group 2 Final
The Cardinals were aggressive from the get-go and a well-executed game plan fueled them to the program’s third sectional championship in the last four seasons. Steve Klein’s 55-yard score plus two more on the ground from QB Bruno Vega gave top-seeded Westwood (11-1) all the firepower they needed to get the win. The Cardinals will advance to the Group 2 state semifinal, setting up a massive showdown against state finalist Shabazz.
JSZ’s Sean Dugan has the highlights + reaction from Bergen County:
