The game started off featuring lots of offense with both teams scoring on their first possessions.
Butler took the opening kickoff and drove smartly down the field, going 80 yards in 15 plays.

Smith carried 8 times for 49 yards, but the biggest play of the drive was a 6-yard completion to Evan Croker on 4th-and-3 from the CG 15. Smith completed the drive by blasting in from inside the 1 on 4th down and it was 7-0 with 6:04 left in the first.

The Panthers needed just eight plays to even the score. Starting at their 24, the running of Asfalg (19 carries, 88 yards, 2 TD) and Thomas Cannataro combined with quick screen passes to wide receivers keyed the attack. Asfalg hit Jake Catanzarite with a screen pass and the junior broke a pair of tackles on his way to the house for a 35-yard score to tie the game a 7 with 3:32 left in the first.

Both QBs would trade scores to make it 14-14 at the break. Smith raced 57 yards for a score on a sneak that opened up, and Asfalg matched it with a 1-yard effort 21 seconds before halftime.

Cedar Grove was poised to take the lead starting the second half, moving the ball into Butler territory. The drive ended abruptly when Butler’s Nick Parkinson picked off a Panther pass and returned it to the Bulldog 25.

It turned out to be a 14-point swing when Smith took matters into his own hands, and feet. A 26-yard jaunt moved the ball to the CG 49, and Smith then scampered 49 yards to pay dirt up the middle to give the Bulldogs the lead at 21-14 early in the third quarter.

Asfalg answered for Cedar Grove, moving the Panthers 70 yards in 10 plays to even the score early in the 4th quarter.  The senior QB came up with a pair of 4th down completions to keep the drive alive. An 8-yarder to Andujar on 4th-and-2 from the CG 38 and 28 yards to Catanzarite on 4th-and-5 from the Butler 49. Two plays later, Asfalg rambled in from 18 yards out to tie the game at 21, setting up the memorable finish.

“Like I said, a huge battle. When we played Glen Ridge (35-20 Panthers’ first-round win in N2G1 playoff game), nobody said we can make it this far.” said Asfalg. “No one thought we were gonna’ beat Mountain Lakes, no one thought we could beat New Providence.

“We just upset a 11-0 team, No. 1 seed. No one thought we could do this at all.”

Asfalg finished 21-30 for 262 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. Most of the completions were wide receiver screens and short passes over the middle. It was a case of taking what the defense gave them. Catanzarite had 6 catches for 106 yards and 1 TD, while Andujar chipped in with 8 catches for 72 yards.

“They were playing off more and we have two of the best receivers that can block” added Asfalg. “I knew if we could just get the ball in their hands, they could take off and get another five yards.”

Butler’s Smith was 8-13 for 53 yards, and Croker led the way with 4 catches for 21 yards.
For the second straight season, Butler finishes at 11-1 with a season-ending loss to Cedar Grove.

North Group 1 Regional Final
Cedar Grove (10-3)     7         7         0        10       24
Butler (11-1)                14        0         7         0        21
B – David Smith 1 run (Logan Mandaglio kick)
CG – Jake Catanzarite 35 pass from Pierce Asfalg (Sebastian Kovacs kick)
B – Smith 57 run (Mandaglio kick)
CG – Asfalg 1 run (Kovacs kick)
B – Smith 49 run (Mandaglio kick)
CG – Asfalg 18 run (Kovacs kick)
CG – Kovacs 48 FG