RUTHERFORD — The Bulldogs are headed back to MetLife Stadium.
After winning the North 2, Group 2 football championship there last year, Rutherford repeated as the sectional champion with a 32-14 win against Lyndhurst at home. The Bulldogs will now face Kittatinny in a Group 2 bowl game on a date to be determined.
Senior running back Abellany “Johnny” Mendez accounted for all five Bulldog touchdowns despite not starting the game due to a coach’s decision and losing two early fumbles.
What it means
Rutherford (10-1) has back-to-back sectional titles after not winning one for 51 years. Its only loss this season was to Hasbrouck Heights in the NJIC final, and coach Andy Howell’s team turned that into motivation.
“All good teams are going to lose, no matter what level,” Howell said. “But what makes the difference between a good team and an elite team is how you bounce back after a loss … we’ve been getting better every week since.”
Lyndhurst finishes 9-2 with its first appearance in a sectional final since the 1983 North 1, Group 2 title game.
Key play
The Golden Bears received the second-half kickoff with a 14-13 lead and passed three straight times. The first went for a four-yard loss, the second was a desperation toss to an offensive lineman (penalty and loss of down), and the third was intercepted by the Bulldogs’ Justin Finelli.
Mendez was in the end zone three plays later to give Rutherford the lead for good, and he scored to cap his team’s next two drives as well.
In the first half, it appeared Bulldogs turnovers would tip the scales. Mendez broke off a 16-yard run deep in Golden Bears territory with 6:42 left in the second quarter. He hurdled a defender (a penalty by NJSIAA rules) and lost control of the ball in the process.
That was the first of three Rutherford turnovers on consecutive offensive plays. Lyndhurst, though, was unable to capitalize on any of them, twice turning it over on downs and having the half expire after the third.
By the numbers
► There were 18 penalties, 10 on Lyndhurst and eight on Rutherford. The most damaging was a Golden Bears pass interference on fourth down early in the fourth quarter, which kept alive the final Bulldog drive and prevented the visitors from staying within two scores.
► Lyndhurst passed 30 times, and nearly all of QB Brian Podolski’s 12 runs were scrambles. The Bulldog defense held North Jersey’s leading rusher, Piotr Partyla, to eight carries for 21 yards, 13 of which came on one run.
“Our coaches did a great job with our defense and had their run locked up,” Mendez said.
Game balls
► Mendez carried 19 times for 166 yards and four touchdowns, caught two passes for 24 yards and a TD, returned a punt 54 yards to set up a second-half score, and he made 11 tackles and the game-sealing interception with 4:32 left.
“He’s the kind of kid that’s going to change a game, and he clearly changed it [Saturday],” Howell said.
► Sebastian Gaeta had a sack and a fumble recovery for Rutherford.
► Emmanuel LaLuz was having a big first half (three catches, 70 yards) for the Golden Bears before leaving with an ankle injury
► Defensively, Anthony Lembo led Lyndhurst with an INT, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.
They said it
“It’s a combination of feelings. It’s excitement, it’s joy, it’s relief, it’s a little bit of everything.” — Howell on the championship win
