UPDATE: In a thrilling showdown, the No. 9 Northern Highlands football team dominated Mount Olive with a decisive 20-7 victory in the NJSIAA/Xfinity North 1, Group 4 semifinals on November 7 at 6:15 PM. This win propels the Highlanders to their sixth consecutive sectional championship appearance.
The dynamic duo of Chase Calarco and Tucker Kanning led the charge for Northern Highlands, showcasing a powerful ground game that overwhelmed their opponents. Calarco opened the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run on the team’s first possession, while Kanning added two more touchdowns with impressive runs of 28 and 4 yards.
This matchup, characterized as a “bracket of death” due to the fierce competition, saw both teams ranked in the NJ.com Top 20 earlier this season. The Highlanders’ smashmouth style of play proved too much for Mount Olive, who struggled to keep pace despite a strong season ending at 8-2.
“We took care of business. We’re fired up right now and having a good time,”
said Calarco, reflecting on the team’s performance.
Mount Olive’s lone touchdown came late in the game from senior quarterback Frank Gallo, but it was too little, too late. Head coach Brian O’Connor expressed his disappointment with the NJSIAA’s northing number format, which he believes negatively impacted the competition. O’Connor praised his senior class for achieving 25 wins over the past three seasons, despite their season-ending loss.
“I’m proud of our seniors. They all fought hard and had a lot of success,”
O’Connor stated.
The victory sets up a highly anticipated rematch between Northern Highlands and their rivals, No. 8 Ramapo, who defeated Wayne Valley 48-20 in the semifinals. This marks the fourth sectional final meeting between the two teams in the last five years, with Ramapo riding a four-game win streak in the series. The last encounter ended in a tight 28-21 victory for Ramapo just two weeks ago.
The upcoming clash promises to be intense, with both teams knowing that executing at a high level will be crucial. “They’re a great football team and you have to execute at a really high level,” said Highlanders coach Keith Cord. “We need to be more physical next Friday.”
As excitement builds for the sectional final, Calarco quipped,
“What’s a year without another Northern Highlands vs. Ramapo sectional final?”
Fans can expect another thrilling encounter as these two powerhouses battle for the title.
