East Brunswick wins CJ 4 thriller
By: Rudy Brandl
The Hillsborough High football fans were chanting "overtime is our time" when Friday night’s Central Jersey Group 4 semifinal game was tied at the end of regulation.
The Raiders, who had won two overtime games and others with late heroics early in the season, couldn’t recapture that magic at East Brunswick. Matt Mariano plunged over center from a yard out and Jimmy McCloskey intercepted a pass on Hillsborough’s possession to give the Bears a 28-21 triumph.
While East Brunswick (9-1) advanced to the CJ 4 championship game vs. Jackson (10-0) at Rutgers Stadium on Dec. 4, the Raiders (8-2) will conclude their fine season at home Thanksgiving Day against Montgomery.
The Raiders tied the game with 1:21 remaining in regulation when senior back Dominic Mazzgatti surged over the goal line from a yard out. Mazzagatti’s team-leading 11th touchdown of the season capped a monster drive that spanned 65 yards in 13 plays over 7:30.
EBHS took over and elected not to attack and Raider head coach Rick Mantz didn’t use any time-outs. He believed his club had the momentum and the edge in the overtime format.
"I figured we’d go to overtime," Mantz said. "You can’t do much without the football. I liked our chances. We’d been there before."
Mariano, who gave the HHS defense fits all night, appropriately scored the deciding points on the run and conversion kick on the first possession of overtime. The Raiders were stopped on their second play when Troy Cyburt’s pass intended for Dave Ellis was picked off at the 10-yard line.
"I’m proud as heck," Mantz said. "These kids battled through so much and came such a long way.".
For a full account of the game and action photos, see Thursday’s edition of the Hillsborough Beacon.