Game of the Year? Northern Highlands football tops Ramapo for sectional title
ALLENDALE — Kyle Major often envisioned himself throwing the game-winning touchdown pass.
Friday night, he was the recipient of the winning score with 29 seconds to go in what will undoubtedly be regarded as North Jersey’s Football Game of the Year.
Major’s over-the-shoulder catch of a 15-yard touchdown toss from Enzo Arjona lifted top seed Northern Highlands to a 35-30 victory over No. 2 Ramapo in the North 1, Group 4 final at Dean A. Moore Stadium.
The Highlanders advanced to the North Group 4 regional title game for the second time in three years and will face Irvington at 4 p.m. on Dec. 4 at Rutgers' SHI Stadium.
The North 1 sectional contest was pushed back by one week due to the sudden death of longtime Ramapo coach Drew Gibbs last week.
Check out the photo gallery, then continue reading.
Gibbs certainly would have approved of the high quality of play. There were six lead changes in the second half, including three in the final 3:14.
“Awesome football game,” Northern Highlands coach Greg Russo said. "I thought we were put in a really tough position, with the whole moving the game thing – kids were obviously dealing with something on their side, but our kids had to bounce back.”
Few players have done that like Major, who atoned for an early fourth-quarter fumble with the decisive TD. He actually played quarterback growing up but ceded the position to his classmate Arjona in high school.
“Think about all the kids now that just transfer when they’re not playing,” Russo said. “This kid just said, ‘I’ll do whatever you need.’ He’s just everything about what our program is.”
What it means
In improving to 12-0, Northern Highlands prolonged the best season in program history and extended its win streak to 15 games.
Ramapo finished 10-2 and nearly completed a storybook postscript to Gibbs’ passing. Junior Jack Grusser threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Ben Robinson with 1:14 remaining, momentarily giving the Raiders a 30-28 lead.
“It was obviously an unreal moment,” Robinson said. “I pointed up to the sky to honor Coach Gibbs, because we’re all playing here for him. And right after that kickoff, I knew that we were going to have to get our heads back on.”
Charlie Sparago returned that ensuing kick 45 yards to set up the Highlanders’ four-play, 40-yard winning drive.
Key play
In this game, it came down to the final play. The Raiders responded swiftly to the Major touchdown with a Grusser 16-yard pass to Will Scordato (7 catches, 116 yards) and a Grusser 18-yard scramble.
With 11 seconds to go and Ramapo facing first down at the Northern Highlands 29, Jack Inserra broke through for a sack that ran out the clock. Hordes of happy Highlanders then streamed onto the field.
“It was just a great feeling sealing it,” said Inserra, who wears jersey No. 11. “I was like, ‘Someone’s got to make a big play,’ and it was me.”
Game balls
► Arjona completed 12-of-19 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 27 times for 97 yards.
► Grusser was equal to the task, going 22-of-39 for 323 yards and two TDs, plus 22 carries for 109 yards and two scores.
► Sparago scored on a five-yard run and a 54-yard catch, while Ian Langan (3 catches, 99 yards) hauled in a 79-yard TD reception
► Robinson finished with 10 catches for 115 yards.
They said it
“When Enzo came in, I’m like, ‘You know what? This kid’s pretty good – so I might as well move over, and then we’ll have each other at our side.” — Major
“I would dream I’d just be throwing [a game-winning TD] in the Super Bowl my entire life. And it’s crazy to see it go the other way around… I never really envisioned catching it for the game-winner.” — Major
“I love them. It’s as mentally tough a group as you could ever have, and they showed it all tonight. … The last four minutes, I think there were like three swings where a lot of teams would have cracked. These guys were like, ‘Let’s go.’ And they finished it.” —Russo
Greg Tartaglia is a high school sports reporter for NorthJersey.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis from our Varsity Aces team, subscribe today. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter and download our app.
Email: tartaglia@northjersey.com
Twitter: @njtags13
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Northern Highlands NJ football tops Ramapo for sectional title
