By: Chris Iseman – Record Sports
HALEDON — Manchester kept its season alive and made school history.
The Falcons appeared in their first playoff game since 2003 on Saturday. It was the program’s third postseason game in history.
But Manchester had never won in the playoffs.
Until Saturday.
“I’m real happy for them,” coach Rande Roca said. “They’ve worked really hard.”
The Falcons’ rise continued.
Manchester scored two second-half touchdowns and its defense made two big plays late as the third-seeded Falcons beat No. 6 Waldwick/Midland Park, 19-6, in the first round of the North 1, Group 2 playoffs on Saturday.
Just a few seasons ago, Manchester was a program that struggled to get just one win.
Now the Falcons (8-2) are headed to the sectional semifinals.
“Sometimes when you don’t win, people talk about you’re not being a great program,” Roca said. “But they’re not around to see how hard these kids worked to get that done. I think we always were a great program. We just put it all together this year.”
Manchester scored on its first drive as Antonio Bisciotti hit Kristian Kaca for a 24-yard touchdown pass. The Falcons missed the extra point. That was their only score of the first half.
But they took control in the second half.
This was the second time this season Manchester beat Waldwick/Midland Park after defeating the Warriors, 42-0, in Week 3 of the regular season.
“This feels amazing right now,” Bisciotti said. “But this is one small step to where we want to go, MetLife.”
Waldwick/Midland Park’s only touchdown Saturday came in the fourth quarter when Ryan Raffaelli threw a six-yard scoring pass to Sean Fitzpatrick.
Big play: One of Manchester’s strengths on Saturday was its ability to convert on third down, especially in the second half.
On their first drive of the third quarter, the Falcons had third-and-11 at their own 29.
But Bisciotti aired out a long pass to Ajay Gonzalez, who made a leaping catch for a 46-yard reception that gave Manchester a first down at Waldwick/Midland Park’s 25.
Four plays later, Bisciotti had a 13-yard scramble to convert a 4th-and-2 at the 17, which set up Shasmar Hughes’ four-yard touchdown run.
Turning point: Manchester had third-and-7 at the Warriors’ 44 when Kiyaun Hansford ran to the outside, found space, broke free and rumbled into the end zone.
His touchdown run with 24 seconds left in the third quarter essentially locked up the Falcons’ victory.
Key defensive plays: Bisciotti made a key interception at Manchester’s 4-yard line on a Waldwick/Midland Park first-down pass late in the fourth quarter, killing a potential scoring drive.
After Manchester went three-and-out, Waldwick/Midland Park began its ensuing possession at the Falcons’ 36.
The Warriors marched down the field and got a first-and-goal at the 5.
They threw into the end zone but Gonzalez picked off the pass to fend off another potential Waldwick/Midland Park touchdown.
What’s next: Manchester will play No. 2 Lakeland in the semifinals. The Lancers beat No. 7 Mahwah, 33-0, on Friday night.
Roca watched that game in-person and came away impressed by what he saw from Lakeland.
“They’re a real good team,” Roca said. “It’s going to be a real battle for us. You know what, we’re hungry. They’ve got goals set.”
