PASSAIC — Joe Santillo and Saadiq Pitts savored one final moment on the field as the disappointed home fans hurried out of the stands around them.
The Clifton seniors had a lot to soak in.
Their last time in Boverini Stadium. Their last game as Mustangs. And their last victory — one made sweeter by their own individual success.
Santillo and Pitts sparked the offense in Clifton’s season finale, helping the Mustangs (6-4) earn a 48-20 victory over Passaic on Thursday in the latest edition of the Thanksgiving game.
“I’m happy with the way I played today and how the team played,” Santillo said. “I’m glad to say this is the way I went out as a senior.”
It was a bounce-back performance for the Mustangs after they were eliminated by Union City in the North 1, Group 5 playoffs. They executed well offensively from start to finish against Passaic to earn a meaningful win for a growing program. Clifton second-year coach Ralph Cinque said the victory clinched the team’s first winning season since 2011.
“You got to take pride in coming back, putting the pieces back together and ending the season on a win. Going 6-4 is a good year,” he said.
For Clifton, Santillo’s do-it-all ability made the difference.
In the first quarter, he fielded a squib kick and returned the ball all the way to Passaic’s 5-yard line. The Mustangs scored on the next play when Santillo scampered into the end zone on a short carry.
The versatile senior extended Clifton’s lead on the next possession, catching a 27-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Armani Brinson down the seam.
“[Santillo] played seven or eight positions for us this year,” Cinque said. “You don’t see that much, and he plays them well.”
The Mustangs offense received another standout performance from Pitts out of the backfield. He recorded 92 yards on 10 carries by relying on his field vision and speed to rip off long runs.
The 5-foot-10 back used his cutback ability to score on a 15-yard run in the second quarter, when it initially looked like he would be contained near the line of scrimmage.
Cinque said it gave Pitts his 23rd rushing touchdown on the year to set a Clifton single-season record.
“It always feels good to win on Thanksgiving,” said Pitts, who joked that he’s thankful for his offensive line. “Now I can go home and happily eat some turkey.”
The game also showed off some of Clifton’s future offensive leaders. Sophomore running back David Martinez played well, while Brinson stepped in nicely as the Mustangs’ new starting quarterback.
“He kept his composure,” Santillo said of Brinson. “He did a great job. He went through his read progression on the passes. He was calm and collected in the huddle. He kept everybody together. Clifton with him has a bright future.”
The Mustangs’ dominant performance sent the seniors off with a holiday win to remember.
“It was really, really emotional this whole week,” Santillo said. “It’s my last week of high school football, and I just went at it the best I could. I came out here and said that whatever happens happens. I’m just going to do my absolute best and know that I left it all on the football field forever.”