RARITAN
Raritan High School, after stumbling into the NJSIAA football playoffs, stunned previously undefeated Lincoln High School with a last-minute touchdown to win its first state championship since 2004.
Facing a fourth-and-9 with 10 seconds before the final whistle, the Rockets surged back in front when quarterback Marc Carnivale found Nick Pasquin for an 11-yard touchdown pass that gave Raritan a 28-26 win and the Central Jersey, Group II title.
The Rockets (7-5) lost five straight games on the heels of the states. Still, they weren’t surprised by their late-season turnaround, head coach Anthony Petruzzi said.
“We weren’t happy with the way we went into the playoffs, but it’s about who you play and not necessarily the outcomes,” he said, referring to Raritan’s tough schedule. “We’ve been down before, but we learned from those mistakes. Our imperfection was really our ultimate strength.”
Pasquin’s touchdown capped a thrilling sectional final Dec. 5 at Kean University in Union.
The sixth-seeded Rockets took a 21-6 lead late in the third quarter after Pasquin, the hero on both sides of the field for Raritan, picked off a pass and returned it 35 yards to the end zone.
Lincoln (11-1) took charge of the game on the next possession, as Lions running back Kamani Addison scored his second of two touchdowns on the night. Lincoln was successful on the two-point conversion to pull within one score, 21-14, at the conclusion of the third quarter.
Quarterback Zymire Gordon crossed the goal line again on a fourth-and-3 play at the 9:23 mark in the fourth quarter. Lincoln went for two points but could not convert. Later, a 50-yard touchdown pass from Gordon to wide receiver Jason Harrison handed the top-seeded Lions their first advantage at 26-21.
Raritan’s defense rose to the occasion, making a huge stop to give the offense one more chance. The Lions fumbled the snap on fourth down and passed the momentum back to the Rockets, who proceeded to march down the field on the game-winning drive.
The Central Jersey, Group II championship is a huge boost for the program. The Rockets entered the states with a losing record, but they ultimately prevailed with three upset victories on their way to the title.
“We have to keep things going in a positive direction. Winning a championship certainly helps,” Petruzzi said. “Winning is a byproduct of doing things the right way.”
The Rockets also got a lift from recovering two onside kicks in the second half that kept the ball out of Lincoln’s hands. Petruzzi had said special teams would play a critical role in the sectional championship because the Lions had an explosive return game. For Raritan, the reward outweighed the risk, and the daring calls paid off.
On offense, Raritan continued to sport a formidable ground game with senior running back Derek Ernst amassing 144 yards on 35 carries in his final game as a Rocket.
ST. JOHN VIANNEY
DePaul Catholic High School spoiled St. John Vianney High School’s bid for a perfect season, defeating the Lancers, 40-17, in the NJSIAA Non-Public Group III finals.
The championship game was played Dec. 5 at Rutgers University’s High Point Solutions Stadium.
The Spartans, seeded seventh, broke open a tight game, scoring 20 unanswered points.
Anthony Brown’s 6-yard scoring run midway through the third quarter lifted top-seeded St. John Vianney to within a field goal of the Spartans at 20-17. However, De- Paul responded with a 61-yard scoring drive capped by Kareem Walker’s 7-yard run to push the lead to, 27-17.
Nasir Hooker scored on runs of 34 and 2 yards in the fourth quarter to put the game away for the Spartans (6-6). Brown passed for 244 yards and a touchdown — 21 yards to Marc Ellington — in the loss.
Chris Chukwuneke was the best defensive player on the field. The Lancers’ standout had 15 total tackles, 12 of which were solo stops.
The Lancers, champions of the Shore Conference A Central Division, finished the year at 11-1.
It was a big year for Lancers football as St. John Vianney signaled a changing of the guard in Shore football among the Non-Public schools. The Lancers thrashed defending state champion Red Bank Catholic High School, 49-6, in the state semifinals.