BY Robert Aitken / Record Sports
UNION — The highest combined seeds of all 23 state football finals faced off at Alumni Stadium on the campus of Kean University.
The atmosphere was nothing new for Hasbrouck Heights and Pompton Lakes, winners of four of the previous six titles in North 1, Group 1. Yet, it was the defending champions on the strength of junior Jasiah Purdie that gave Hasbrouck Heights a 39-14 win over Pompton Lakes in the sectional final.
“It was adrenaline,” said Purdie. “I have to thank the linemen, my quarterback, everybody. I did it for this kid.” Purdie was clutching the No. 58 jersey of senior Travis Culkin, who was injured during the game and couldn’t be on the field to celebrate with the team.
Purdie finished with 16 carries for 129 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Purdie also caught two passes for 16 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Purdie scooped up a fumble and returned it for another score.
“He’s a playmaker on both sides of the ball,” said Hasbrouck Heights coach Nick Delcalzo. “He had four touchdowns? Wow. He had a hell of a day.”
The win caps a roller coaster ride for Hasbrouck Heights over the last month. Four weeks ago, the Aviators lost its perfect season in the NJIC title game against Rutherford. A week later, it took overtime to defeat Cedar Grove. Two weeks ago saw a controversial end to the semifinal game at New Milford. Yet, the Aviators left no doubt on Saturday.
Both teams leaned on its run game early on as both have mostly all season long. The first completion of the entire game came when Pompton Lakes quarterback Kyle Shafer’s pass was deflected at the line at caught by Shafer himself, losing two yards on the play.
Hasbrouck Heights struck first with a 27-yard field goal made by junior Matthew Gwziszc to make it 3-0, Aviators, with 2:11 left in the opening quarter.
In the second quarter, Hasbrouck Heights was in its own territory, but Frank Negrini intercepted James Klenk to put Pompton Lakes in scoring position. It was Negrini who finished the drive off with a 24-yard touchdown run to give Pompton Lakes a 7-3 second quarter lead. Negrini finished with 15 carries for 145 yards and that touchdown.
“We got it going there at times,” said Pompton Lakes coach Scott Mahoney. “We just couldn’t get our momentum going the whole time. They did a great job moving the ball, but it just got away from us.”
The Aviators would drive down the field to take the lead back, thanks to a 22-yard completion from Klenk to junior JC Pagan on fourth down, putting Hasbrouck Heights in the red zone. Klenk finished it on the ground with a nine-yard touchdown run to put Hasbrouck Heights up, 10-7.
Late in the half, Hasbrouck Heights forced a Pompton Lakes punt and put the ball in the hands of its big playmaker, junior Purdie. Purdie dashed past the Pompton Lakes defenders for a 63-yard score to give Hasbrouck Heights a 17-7 halftime lead.
“We had the lead at the half and we knew that they were a good football team,” said Delcalzo. “We knew we can’t leave them hanging around.”
In the third quarter, stout defense stopped both powerful running games. Two heads up plays by the Aviators built its lead up in the final minute of the third quarter. A Negrini carry was popped out by junior Will Vera. The ball sat on the turf, picked up by Purdie and returned 47 yards for a score. As Pompton Lakes took the ball back on its next drive, Zai’heer Jenkins intercepted Shafer’s pass, putting the Aviators back in the red zone.
Pompton Lakes chipped away with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Shafer to Steven Sanders, cutting the lead to 32-14. But, Purdie could not be denied again, catching a 13-yard touchdown pass from Klenk to put the game away.
“Our guys gave everything they had,” said Mahoney. “There were a couple of plays here or there that hurt us and let it slide away.”
The win gives Hasbrouck Heights (10-1) its sixth sectional title and its second in a row. The Aviators have now won 21 of 22 games over the course of its last two seasons. Pompton Lakes finishes the season with an 8-3 record.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HASBROUCK HEIGHTS PLAYERS, COACHES, PARENTS, STUDENTS AND FANS FROM EVERYONE IN THE NJIC !!!
