NORTH CALDWELL- On Friday night, West Morris and West Essex met in the North Group 3 playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. After falling to the Wolfpack in the sectional finals in 2021 and 2022, the Knights have evened the score over the last two seasons.
This year, in the North 2 Group 3 sectional semifinal, No. 2 seeded West Essex overcame an early 7-0 deficit and rallied to defeat the third-seeded Wolfpack 28-14 on a brisk evening in North Caldwell.
A year ago, the Knights topped the Wolfpack 21-20 in the state semifinal.
The win sets up a rematch with top-seeded Old Tappan. OT defeated an error-prone West Essex 19-7 in Week Zero. The Golden Knights from Bergen County took advantage of early mistakes to build a 19-0 lead in the first quarter and held on. They punched their ticket to the sectional final with a 22-14 win over fourth-seeded Cranford.
Brady Phillips (16 carries, 71 yds.) ran for 2 TDs and came up with a key fumble recovery late in the 4th quarter to seal the Knights’ victory on Friday night.
Quarterback Jake Long (3-4, 93 yds.) twice eluded the West Morris pass rush to complete a pair of long passes which set up two first half touchdowns as the Knights took a 21-7 lead at the break.
It took the visitors just two plays to grab the lead. Senior RB Brady Bentrewicz (10 carries, 108 yds.) took a handoff, found room around right end and raced 77 yards to the house for a 7-0 West Morris lead just 54 seconds in.
The Knights went three-and-out on their first series but tied the game on their second possession, thanks to the play of Long. Facing a 3rd-and-8 from their 36, the junior QB pulled the first of his two Houdini acts and found Max Garcia for 51 yards and a first down at the WM 13. On the next play, Vincent Giaquinto scampered to the endzone and the game was tied 7-7.
West Morris went three-and-out and a 49-yard punt set up the Knights at their 16. On 2nd-and-11 from the 15, Long escaped the pass rush and lofted a ball to Justin Perini for 35 yards and a first down at midfield. Anthony Drago then took a handoff, found a hole, cut to the right and completed the 50-yard house call to give West Essex their first lead at 14-7 with 24 seconds left in the first.
Midway through the second quarter, the Wolfpack would reach into their bag of tricks and came up empty. On 4th-and-4 from their 48, a shovel pass on a fake punt fell incomplete, setting up West Essex in excellent field position.
The Knights took advantage, driving 48 yards in 11 plays. A 17-yard burst by Phillips moved the ball to the WM 9, and three plays later he blasted in from the 1 and it was 21-7 with 2:05 left in the half.
Led by junior QB Stephen Braccioforte, the Wolfpack drove into West Essex territory. A 43-yard completion to Zavad Marsa moved the ball to the WE 10. With 25 seconds left and no time outs remaining, Braccioforte ran the ball to the 1 on 3rd down, setting up 4th-and-goal with the clock ticking and less than 15 seconds remaining. Inexplicably, the Wolfpack clocked the ball, turning it over to West Essex.
The Knights held the ball for the first six minutes of the second half before turning it over on downs at the WM 29, and the Wolfpack then made it a one-score game. The drove the 71 yards in 11 plays, all on the ground. Runs of 10 and 11 yards by Peter Miragliotta (13 carries, 61 yds.) moved the ball into West Essex territory and a 15-yarder by Bentrewicz got the ball to the WE 15. Four plays later, Miragliotta rambled in from the 4 and it was 21-14 with 53 seconds left in the third.
Another big play by West Essex would help restore the two-score margin and put the game out of reach. A 41-yard burst by Giaquinto set up the Knights at the WM 13, setting up Phillips’ second TD, a 1-yard plunge to make it 28-17 with 10:11 left.
West Morris had one last chance to get close, moving the ball to their 43, but on 4th-and-4 the Knights’ Oliver Kik pulled down Miragliotta on a screen pass for no gain on a fine open-field tackle, ensuring the final result.
For the first time since 2019, West Morris will not be playing in a sectional final. The Wolfpack lost to Old Tappan, 21-14 in the North 2 Group 4 semifinal five years ago.
They said it:
“We practiced it all week. We knew what they wanted to do. They run a similar offense. They want to run up the middle but our scout team, our coaches had a great design. We stuffed them. We out-physicaled them.”
Our O-line and D-line rally carried us this game. I had holes to run through all game. It really comes down to technique. They get lower, they push the pile, move the line of scrimmage over and over and it’s great to run behind them.”
(On QB Jake Long) “Everyone on the team would die for that kid. When we need to make a play we know he can do it anytime, anywhere, and I’m so glad he did.”
- West Essex RB Brady Phillips
(On the early West Morris TD) We were actually misaligned, we rotated the wrong way.
Give them credit, those running backs are dynamic, but once we started rotating the right way .and being in the right position, we were able to hit ‘em, be physical with ‘em. Like I said we were prepared for what they did.”
“I told Jake, when your number’s called, be ready to run it or throw it, and he’s so elusive in the pocket. You think you have him and then - all of a sudden – his escapability is great and the next thing you know he’s making big passes to our guys downfield”.
- West Essex coach Chris Benacquista
“They’re a special group. This is the first time in their high school career they’re not going to the sectional finals and believe me, they’re hurting about it. They’re feeling bad. But it was a great effort for three years, total team effort getting in there. You win as a team and you lose as a team.”
- West Morris coach Kevin Hennelly, on the senior class
NORTH 2, GROUP 3 SEMIFINALS
West Morris (8-3) 7 0 7 0 14
West Essex (8-2) 14 7 0 7 28
WM – Brady Bentrewicz 77 run (Johnny Viera kick)
WE – Vincent Giaquinto 13 run (Robert Warmington kick)
WE – Anthony Drago 50 run (Warmington kick)
WE – Brady Phillips 1 run (Warmington kick)
WM – Peter Miragliotta 4 run (Viera kick)
WE – Phillips 1 run (Warmington kick)
Follow Sideline Chatter on X @ Chattermeister |
