NEWARK – The hype was real.
The North 2 Group 1 sectional final was all that and then some.
In a game that many projected earlier in the year to be the first-ever Group 1 “Bowl Game” at MetLife Stadium, Hasbrouck Heights and Shabazz lived up to that billing on Saturday afternoon.
Jasiah Purdie scored the go-ahead touchdown for the Aviators off a pass from quarterback Spencer Lee with 2:33 left in the game and cornerback Zai’heer Jenkins sealed the deal with an interception near midfield moments later to give Hasbrouck Heights (11-0) a 13-7 victory and the North 2, Group 1 title.
“I tried to keep my mental focus in check,” Purdie said of the game-winning touchdown. “The outside linebacker went into the flat and I was wide open and I got a free release. Spencer hit me on the run. I just tried to make something happen.”
“I was thinking if I could get one (interception) that it would be a gamechanger,” Jenkins said. “I read it the whole way and once I got it and got up, I knew the game was over,”
With the win, the Aviators claimed its third-straight sectional final and increased its winning streak to 14 games as they now head to a Group 1 bowl game.
What it means
Hasbrouck Heights advances to the Group 1 bowl game and faces North 1 Champion Butler.
The Aviators have now won 31 of its last 32 games.
In its illustrious 99 years of football, this is the first time ever that Hasbrouck Heights has won three sectional titles in a row.
Key play
With the game tied at 7 apiece with just under six minutes to play and Shabazz driving in Heights’ territory at the 31-yard line, defensive end John Sedlmeir sacked Bulldogs’ quarterback Anthony Travis, Jr. and caused a fumble that the Aviators recovered.
Three minutes later, Lee connected with Purdie on a 16-yard touchdown for the go-ahead score.
By the numbers
► Purdie had 146 yards rushing on 21 carries and 7 receptions for 45 yards and 1 TD. He also threw a 3-yard TD pass to senior wide receiver Shawn Calhoun for the first score of the game.
► Hasbrouck Heights now has 15 sectional titles in history, but seven since the modern playoff era began in 1974.
► Coach Nick Delcalzo is now 261-88-1 in 34 seasons (1985 first year) at Hasbrouck Heights.
Did you know?
It was the first time in Newark history that a state title football game was played in the Brick City.
The loss marks the first time since 2004 that Shabazz dropped a home playoff game.
They said it
“Defensively, we played really well. We knew that our offensive and defensive lines were going to make the difference. Our kids played tough. If you were in the stands watching it was a great football game. Shabazz is a good football team and you can’t take anything away from them. This win is very gratifying. We’ve had some great teams in the history of Heights football and no team has ever won three in a row. Today could have gone either way. Purdie had a great game and took it to another level. He’s a gamer and he makes plays.” – Nick Delcalzo
