Butler football routs Mountain Lakes to win first sectional title since 2018
BUTLER – Jason Luciani clutched a small plaque and hoisted it in the air as his entire team looked on.
The veteran coach proudly announced that Butler just added its ninth sectional title in program history and reminded everyone that the job is not yet done.
“This is number nine. Nine state sectional championships in our history,” quipped an emotional Luciani. “But there’s something missing here – a Group 1 state title.”
Butler snapped a long-standing skid on Friday and recaptured its glory days in the process.
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The Bulldogs claimed their first sectional title in six years, and ninth in program history, with a 42-7 win over two-time defending champion Mountain Lakes in the North 1, Group 1 final at Hempstead Field.
Senior PJ Coffey scored three times for the Bulldogs and quarterback David Smith accounted for two touchdowns as the Morris County school ended a nine-game losing streak against Mountain Lakes dating back to 2009.
Butler (11-0) advances to a Group 1 state semifinal next Friday when it will face undefeated Cedar Grove in Essex County. The Panthers defeated New Providence, 35-14, in the North 2, Group 1 sectional final on Friday night.
“Mountain Lakes has been dominant. They’ve had our number. I’ve been at Butler since 1998 and we haven’t beaten Mountain Lakes in that time. It’s nice to get over that hump and have the better players this time around. Lot of respect to them,” Luciani said. “Their kids played hard the whole game. It was nice to go out and get this victory against a program like Mountain Lakes.”
Coffey opened the scoring just five minutes into the game when he barreled in from the 2-yard line to cap a 10 play, 74-yard drive.
The senior then put the Bulldogs ahead by two scores when he took a handoff 31 yards down the left sideline with 2:30 left in the opening quarter.
“PJ is more than a dual-threat, he’s like a triple-threat. He can run it, catch it and throw it. We didn’t even let him throw it today,” Luciani said. “He’s supremely talented, supremely intelligent, supremely tough. Everything to the highest level. I’m super happy for him and super proud of him.”
Coffey put the game out of reach early in the second quarter when he snagged a 12-yard pass from quarterback David Smith to put the home team ahead, 21-0 with 10:07 left in the half.
Butler scored on its first four of five possessions in the first half.
“My freshman year, we lost to Mountain Lakes in the first round of the state tournament by almost the same score,” Coffey said. “It was nice to get them back and get the job done today.
“I believe we’re probably one of the best teams, if not the best team, to come through here. It’s a great group of guys. It’s fitting we’re able to continue the tradition and keep the Butler legacy going.”
What it means
Butler is a sectional champion for the first time since 2018.
The Bulldogs advance to their first Group 1 state semifinal.
Friday’s game was the third time Butler and Mountain Lakes faced each other in a sectional final and fourth time in the postseason. Butler last beat Mountain Lakes in the 1997 sectional final, 30-7.
The Bulldogs are 11-0 at this point of a season for the first time since 1994, a year they won a sectional title.
By the numbers
∎ Smith had 10 carries for 97 yards and a touchdown and was 5-of-6 passing for 46 yards and a touchdown.
∎ Coffey had eight carries for 78 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 35 yards and a touchdown.
∎ AJ Kilmat had two carries for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Parting words
“This may be the best game of my life. I’m so happy. We’ve been talking about this year since the youth level. We knew this was our best opportunity to bring that ring home. Tonight, was storybook. Mountain Lakes is an excellent program. They have just as much tradition as us. We don’t take any team lightly.” – David Smith.
