HASBROUCK HEIGHTS – There is always a point in a championship season when a team will struggle its way to victory. If Hasbrouck Heights finds a way to win next week, they may look back on Friday night as that game.
The rainy, chilly and windy night didn’t help, but Weequahic did its best to push the Aviators. Heights did the one thing they had to do, which is not give up the big play, and it spelled a 26-6 win and a spot in the sectional finals.
Michael Robertson got Hasbrouck Heights up on the first drive of the game with 9-yard touchdown run and after a botched field goal try, Ian Rinke scored on a 17-yard pass from Spencer Lee to put the Aviators up two scores.
The Indians came back with a Charles Bruton touchdown to make it 14-6 at the half, but Heights was able to keep them off the scoreboard in the second half while adding a pair of Jasiah Purdie touchdowns. Zai’Heer Jenkins had a pair of second half interceptions for Heights to thwart any Weequahic comeback.
What it means
Hasbrouck Heights will face Shabazz next week for the North 2, Group 1 title.
The Aviators got a taste of what they will face next week, a team with great speed and breakaway ability, and they found a way to win.
Key play
It was really early, but with Heights feeling some pressure to score first, they faced a fourth and 11 at the Indian 25. Lee handed off to Purdie, who pulled up and threw back to Lee curling out in the left flat.
Two Weequahic defenders were right with him, but somehow the ball ended up going between them to Lee, who got it top the Indian 12 for a first down. Three plays later Robertson scored from the 9. It proved to be an example of the entire game – not pretty, but effective.
► Hasbrouck Heights had 231 total yards, with Robertson going 21-81 rushing and 1-17 receiving. Purdie was 13-52 rushing and 3-37 receiving. Lee was 5-14 passing for 72 yards and the two scores.
► Weequahic had 220 total yards, 154 in the second half. Bruton was 18-95 rushing and finished the season with 1,080 rushing yards. Dioh Desuah had 11 tackles, including 2 for loss, and wreaked havoc in the first half when Heights could not block him.
Game balls
► Robertson, who got a ‘Happy Birthday’ serenade in the post-game huddle. He had the bulk of the carries and turned in a workmanlike effort, especially stretching out and getting the ball on the goal line on that first scoring drive to open the game.
► Lee. The conditions weren’t ideal for throwing the ball, but Lee found a way to thread the needle twice on his touchdown throws to Rinke and Purdie. He also used his legs in key spots for first downs.
They said it
“I thought we played really well, especially in keeping their quarterback under control. They’ve got a bunch of guys who can take it to the house and we didn’t give up the big play. That’s why it was so important to get the lead and get up a couple of scores; they can break one any time. The guys stepped up.” – Heights coach Nick DelCalzo
Up next
Hasbrouck Heights (10-0) will travel to Newark for the North 2 Group 1 sectional final against Shabazz, the defending champion in this section.
BUTLER ADVANCES TO FINAL IN NORTH 1 GROUP 1
POMPTON PLAINS — A fumble, attributed to the wet conditions, led to the first score en route to a Butler victory.
After a scoreless first quarter, the top-seeded Bulldogs were looking for an opportunity. Once the ball spilled on the turf, it opened the door. Quarterback Evan Smith zipped a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jason Polons on the first play. Butler went on to beat No. 5 Wallkill Valley, 20-0 Friday in a NJSIAA North 1 Group I semifinal.
Once Butler’s Steven Schubert recovered the fumble, the Smith-Polons connection energized the crowd and the touchdown proved to be the game winner.
In the third, Butler withstood Wallkill’s best shot. The Rangers drove inside the Bulldogs’ 10-yard line, but the defense held. On the change of possession, Smith darted 68 yards down to the Rangers 5. Three plays later, Smith capped the drive from the 1 with 3:53 left and Bulldogs survived the monsoon, advancing to their first sectional final since 2009.
For the second straight Friday night, the weather did not cooperate and the game was moved five miles down Route 23 to Pequannock High School’s all-weather synthetic surface. Butler’s home, Hempstead Field, was reduced to a quagmire on Friday afternoon and was beat up during last week’s first-round win over Pompton Lakes.
“They were overplaying the outside because Joey Walsh, our fullback, went motion out there and that opened up the middle for Jason,” Smith said of the play that produced the game’s first score. “I waited and threw it to him and he made a heck of a play. We needed that to start the game.”
Butler’s stout defense, led by Schubert and Jake Luciani, kept the Rangers out of the end zone twice in the second half. The second stand allowed running back Joe Conti to land the final blow with 2:52 to play, barreling over from the 5 to close out the scoring.
The Bulldogs will host No. 3 Boonton or No. 2 Park Ridge, scheduled for Saturday afternoon, for the sectional title on Nov. 16.
What it means
Butler advances to its first sectional title game since 2009 and moves a step closer to its first championship in 21 years.
The Bulldogs improve to 9-1 and have now won six straight games since losing to Hasbrouck Heights in Week 4.
Butler is now 3-0 all-time against Wallkill Valley.
By the numbers
► Smith rushed for 113 yards and one TD and threw for 145 yards on 15-of-21 passing and a TD
► Polons had five receptions for 54 yards and a TD
► Butler is now 28-16 all time in the playoffs
Did you know?
Butler will make its 14th sectional final appearance. The Bulldogs seek an eighth overall title since the modern playoff era began in 1974.
The last time Butler advanced to a championship game nine years ago, it was the No. 3 seed and lost to top seed Mountain Lakes, 48-7, in the North 1 Group 1 final .
They said it
“I’m already looking forward to next week. Everyone in Butler, the players, the coaches, the parents and the people who live in town, all know this is where Butler belongs. The chips just haven’t fallen our way over the last couple of years. But we’re back where we belong and I’m just happy for everyone.” – Butler coach Jason Luciani
“We have a winning atmosphere and I’m proud of all my brothers. We got it done tonight and now we’re a team that wins.” – Evan Smith
