NJIC Football
LYNDHURST – Lyndhurst (4-4) gave its state playoff plan a big push with a 36-35 victory over Pompton Lakes on Friday night at Cipolla Field in Lyndhurst.
Rutherford (8-0) stayed undefeated and claimed the outright NJIC Colonial Division title with a 21-14 win at Waldwick on Friday night.
St. Mary (7-1) has won back-to-back games after blitzing Emerson 62-20 on Friday night on the road.
Queen of Peace (3-5) rebounded and will be looking to end the season at .500 after defeating Wallington, 26-21.
The Lyndhurst victory was the Golden Bears’ biggest win in the past few years.
It was the one-two tandem of Peter Guerriero and Matt DeMarco on offense that rallied Lyndhurst to victory after being down 21-14 at halftime. Guerriero would rush 34 times for 320 yards and four touchdowns, and DeMarco added 17 carries for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
Guerriero had two touchdowns in the fourth quarter that put the Bears over the Cardinals and what appears to be a bid in the Group 2 North 2 state sectional. Official bids will be doled out on Sunday.
Lyndhurst head coach Rich Tuero said that it appears it will get a bid, and this is coming after the Golden Bears lost their first three games of the season.
“After going 0-3 it’s truly amazing to win four out of five and go to the states,” said Tuero. “I couldn’t be happier.”
Friday, October 30
St. Mary 62, Emerson 20
St. Mary got all the scoring it needed in the first half. And senior running back Derius Stone had a career night, possibly the biggest for a New Jersey back this season with 577 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Stone catalogued five of his seven touchdowns in the first half. Backup running back Tyrese Thomas added 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns near the end of the game.
Rutherford 21, Waldwick 14
Rutherford took a 21-0 lead in the first half and held on in the second half to stay undefeated on the year and collected the undisputed NJIC Colonial Division title. Rutherford quarterback Nick Birchby hit Laris Mulic on a 28-yard touchdown, and Kevin Kosakowski kicked the extra point for a 21-0 lead and what would turn out to be the game-winner. Mulic also added a 10-yard touchdown run. In addition senior Joe Mauro, a lineman turned fullback, smashed in from one yard out to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead. On defense senior Van Foley and junior Sebastian Medina led Rutherford with 13 and 11 tackles, respectively. Junior Shawn Williams also had 1 1/2 sacks for the Bulldogs defense. Kosakowski and Mulic had an interception each for Rutherford.
Queen of Peace 26, Wallington 21
Queen of Peace rebounded nicely after a pair of losses and held on in the end at Wallington. Golden Griffins junior quarterback Derick Souza threw his third touchdown pass of the game, this time to Nasier James, 91 yards in the third quarter. It gave Queen of Peace a 26-14 lead. Souza completed 10 of 19 pass attempts for 174 yards and three touchdowns. James caught only five passes but accumulated 129 receiving yards and two touchdowns. On the ground Fayeson Carney ran eight times for 77 yards. On defense Deshawn Brickhouse made nine tackles and two sacks along with returning a fumble recovery for a 41-yard touchdown. In eight games this season Souza has thrown for 1,496 passing yards and 16 touchdowns.
