VERONA — Junior running back Piotr Partyla rushed for five touchdowns, including a three-yard touchdown run with 33 seconds left, to push No. 3 seed Lyndhurst past No. 2 seed Verona, 37-34, on Saturday in the semifinals of the North 2, Group 2 sectional tournament.
After a scoreless first quarter, Lyndhurst got on the board with a 22-yard Benny Franchino field goal. After a stop and a short punt, Partyla’s three-yard touchdown run gave Lyndhurst a 10-0 lead. Verona and Lyndhurst would alternate touchdowns to give the Golden Bears a 17-14 halftime lead. That lead would expand by six as Partyla scampered for 65 yards on the first play of the second half to take a 23-14 lead.
Verona would storm back with consecutive touchdown runs of 21 and 50 yards by senior Frank Riggio as the Hillbillies took a 27-23 lead. After Partyla’s fourth touchdown run gave Lyndhurst the lead, Verona took it right back with a 49-yard touchdown run by senior Frank Riggio.
What it means
For the first time in 35 years, Lyndhurst (9-1) will play for a state sectional title.
The Golden Bears last reached the title game in 1983, defeating Newton, 28-6, in the final.
Lyndhurst will face the top seed in Rutherford (9-1), a fellow NJIC foe. The Golden Bears could have potentially faced the Bulldogs in the NJIC playoffs earlier this season, but were left out of the league playoffs because of their only loss, a double overtime defeat against New Milford.
Did you know?
► Lyndhurst and Verona were tied in power points for the eighth and final playoff spot a year ago in North 2, Group 2. Due to tiebreakers, the Hillbillies were left out while the Golden Bears reached the postseason.
► Lyndhurst will look to snap a four-game losing streak to Rutherford on Friday. The Golden Bears last defeated the Bulldogs in November 2011, a 38-13 win at Tryon Field in the first round of the North 2, Group 1 tournament.
Key play
Leading 34-30 with under eight minutes left, Verona appeared to have stopped Lyndhurst’s offense. However, a roughing the passer penalty extended the drive.
The drive ultimately stalled, but a punt into the end zone led to Verona’s own drive stalling and gave Lyndhurst the ball on the 48-yard line with 3:16 to go.
Game ball
The game ball belongs to Partyla. The junior not only scored all five touchdowns for Lyndhurst, but his biggest play may have been snatching an interception out of the air on defense in Verona’s last chance to win the game.
They said it
“This is for all of the people that believed, because not even our own newspapers believed in us. They all picked Verona. It’s for all of the people who believed. We’ve had tons of haters, tons of naysayers, it’s for the town of Lyndhurst.” — Lyndhurst coach Rich Tuero.
“I live for football. This is all I’ve got.”— Lyndhurst running back Piotr Partyla.
