Ramapo rallies to beat River Dell in overtime by Greg Mattura of The Record
FRANKLIN LAKES – Ramapo went straight for the end zone on the first play of overtime and senior quarterback AJ Wingfield threw down the middle for a touchdown.
Wingfield’s 25-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Isaiah Savitt was the difference in the unbeaten Green Raiders’ raucous 42-35 victory over previously unbeaten River Dell on Friday night in the Super Football Conference.
Ramapo sealed the victory with a goal-line stand, as Wingfield’s brother, Matt, teamed with fellow senior linebacker Anthony Sargenti to make a tackle for no gain on a fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line.
Ramapo tied the score at 35 with 1:35 left in the fourth after Wingfield tossed a 7-yard touchdown pass to Sargenti, then followed by tossing a two-point conversion pass to Savitt.
Watch the game-winning goal-line stand, then continue reading below
Ramapo sealed a 42-35 win with a goal-line stand in overtime. Greg Mattura, Staff Writer, @gregmattura
What it means
Ramapo (5-0) should remain the top-ranked public school in the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey Top 20 and No. 1 in the NorthJersey.com Public Top 20. River Dell (4-1) merits remaining No. 3 in the NorthJersey.com Public Top 20. And these teams could meet again in the North Group 3 playoffs.
By the numbers
► Ramapo erased a 35-20 deficit midway through the fourth quarter, with Wingfield tossing an 11-yard TD pass to senior receiver Max Baker and junior kicker Aiden Labell adding the extra point to cut the deficit to 35-27.
► River Dell senior running back Dave Fletcher powered his way to a pair of touchdowns, including a 1-yard score with 6:45 left in the fourth to provide the 35-20 lead.
Key play
It’s hard to pick just one, but let’s go with Wingfield’s 25-yard TD pass to Savitt for the final score. Wingfield looked right, then threw down the middle to Savitt, who split two defenders for his third receiving TD of the night.
“Isaiah’s been doing great job,” AJ Wingfield said. “He was burning his guys all night, and we knew we would have him across the middle of the field.”
Watch the ensuing two-point conversion, then continue reading
Ramapo scored with 1:35 left in the fourth quarter, and was successful on this 2-point conversion attempt to tie the game. Greg Mattura, Staff Writer, @gregmattura
Game ball
Savitt caught three touchdown passes and a two-point conversion. He caught a 17-yard score from Wingfield in the second quarter to cut the halftime deficit to 14-6, and the duo teamed up again for a 19-yard score in the third to trim the margin to 14-13.
“Tonight, Isaiah Savitt stepped up and just had a huge game,” Ramapo coach Drew Gibbs said. “Most of the second half they were doubling [Max] Baker, and Savitt stepped up and played big for us.”
They said it
“Just don’t quit,” Gibbs said. “We preach that to our kids all the time, that no matter what the circumstances, you don’t give up, you don’t give in. I loved their mental toughness and the way they kept fighting.”
“They got us last year,” AJ Wingfield said of River Dell, “so tonight was revenge night. We got them tonight. We’ll see them later, too [in the North Group 3 playoffs.]”
Up next
► Ramapo hosts Teaneck on Friday.
► River Dell play at Dwight Morrow on Friday.