Mahwah defeats Westwood, 35-28 to claim North 1 Group 2 championship by Chris Iseman of The Record
EAST RUTHERFORD – Jack Wood had one thought running through his mind.
“Hold onto the ball,” Wood said.
The Mahwah senior had just intercepted a Westwood pass at the Cardinals’ 31-yard line. Wood didn’t want to get stripped from behind. So he sprinted toward the end zone, gripping the ball tightly, carrying the Thunderbirds’ chance at a championship.
Touchdown.
Wood’s interception return propelled second-seeded Mahwah to a 35-28 victory over No. 4 Westwood in the North 1, Group 2 championship game Sunday at MetLife Stadium. It was the Thunderbirds second consecutive sectional championship, and the first time that they’ve gone back-to-back since 1978-79.
This season’s title didn’t come easily.
Mahwah (11-1) lost nine starters on both sides of the ball from last season’s team to graduation. But this current group of 22 seniors stepped up.
“I feel like going into the season – summer, throughout the season – no one was really giving us credit as a senior class,” senior receiver Brian DePaola said. “Today we showed we’re a dominant senior class.”
The Thunderbirds needed that dominance in a back-and-forth, momentum-shifting game against Westwood (9-3).
The Cardinals, who won the section in 2014, held a 21-14 lead at halftime.
“At halftime, we were down a score and we challenged those seniors – they had an opportunity to win a state championship,” Mahwah coach Jeff Remo said. “The seniors took charge.”
The Thunderbirds faced a second-and-9 at Westwood’s 47-yard line on their first drive of the third quarter. Senior quarterback Ron Riccie threw into the end zone for DePaola, who jumped up and made an incredible catch to keep the ball away from the Cardinals’ defender.
That tied the game at 21. But momentum then shifted back toward Westwood.
Junior quarterback Sean Hopkins hit senior receiver Sean McKay for an eight-yard touchdown pass on the Cardinals’ ensuing possession, pushing Westwood ahead at the 6:51 mark of the third.
McKay had a stellar game, finishing with 12 catches for 169 yards and three touchdowns.
But the Thunderbirds came back.
They needed a big play. They got one.
Facing a fourth-and-6 at Westwood’s 36 with 5:35 remaining, Riccie threw an excellent pass to DePaola, who once again made an outstanding catch for a game-tying touchdown.
Riccie and DePaola, who caught eight passes for 175 yards, have been playing football together since the third grade.
Riccie had seen plenty of those highlight-reel catches in the past.
“We always played football together in and outside of the season,” said Riccie, who completed 16 of 27 passes for 258 yards. “He made some crazy catches in the backyard. I knew he had it in him.”
Wood came through for Mahwah with his interception return less than two minutes later.
The Thunderbirds took the lead and held it for the final 4:02.
“DePaola and Jack, nothing surprises me with those kids,” Remo said.
Westwood made this a tough win for Mahwah. The Cardinals’ offense was excellent. Hopkins completed 18 of 39 passes for 227 yards and four touchdowns, including 47- and 24-yard scoring passes to McKay in the first half.
Riccie hit DePaola for a 24-yard scoring pass in the first quarter, and later hit Wood for an 8-yard TD throw at 5:40 of the second to cut Westwood’s lead to 21-14.
Then came the halftime talk and the challenge to Mahwah’s seniors.
They came through. Wood made sure of it.
“It was the greatest feeling ever,” Wood said.
Email: iseman@northjersey.com