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SPORTS

Bernards punches ticket to championship game

JOSH ROSENFELD
Correspondent

JERSEY CITY - Matt Tantleff scored three touchdowns and Curt Gouldin scored twice as Bernards earned a trip to the NJSIAA Central Group II championship game with a 34-26 decision over Lincoln on Saturday evening at Caven Point.

The Mountaineers will try to claim their first sectional title when they take on Manasquan for the crown in two weeks.

Bernards never trailed as it extended its winning streak to five games, but the team had to withhold some furious Lincoln rallies down the stretch. Twice in the fourth quarter Lincoln scored to reduce the deficit to a single point and both times the Mountaineers answered with touchdowns, one apiece from Gouldin and Tantleff.

The last, a 31-yard pass from Stephens Gribbon (12-of-16 for 181 yards and four touchdowns) provided Bernards with its final margin with 3:47 remaining. The Mountaineers forced Lincoln to a three-and-out and then drew an offside penalty on a late fourth-and-2  to remove all doubt.

Prior to the contest,  Bernards coach Jon Simoneau stressed his team's need to contain Lincoln's speedy backs, citing Kamani Addison by name. The Mountaineers failed miserably in that regard as Addison ran for a game-high 189 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries.

Tantleff scored twice in the second quarter, one on a shifty 38-yard run, the second on a 29-yard pass from Gribbon as Bernards amassed a 21-6 advantage by the break.

The teams exchanged three-and-out series to start the contest, but Bernards went to work on its second possession. The Mountaineers marched 66 yards in 14 plays --- nine runs and five passes --- with Gribbon's 8-yards toss to Gouldin and Jonah Walsh's extra point putting Bernard's on top to stay with 3:12 left in the first quarter.

The teams then exchanged fumbles on consecutive plays, with Lincoln regaining control at the Bernard's 38. Nine plays later Addison plowed in from a yard but a missed extra point prevented the Lions from tying the score.

Tantleff's heroics extended through halftime as the Mountaineers began the second half with a trick onsides kick by Timmy Lallis that Tantleff fielded on the hop at the Lincoln 38. Bernards didn't score but the play tilted the field until Lincoln put together its strongest drive of the contest, an 80-yard, 11-play excursion culminated by a 12-yard keeper by Ethan Zayas.

Bernards went three-and-out and the Lions responded with another strong drive, advancing 66 yards in eight plays with Addison finding the end zone on an 11-yard burst up the middle. Juwan Leseur's 2-point conversion whittled the deficit to 21-20 with 9:58 to play.

Bernards stormed back on the very next play with Gribbon hooking up with Gouldin for a 51-yard strike over the middle, and two plays later the pair team for a 20-yard touchdown and a 27-20 edge.

Lincoln rallied again behind a 32-yard sprint down the left sideline by Addison to reduce the margin to 27-26 with 6:13 to play.

Once again Bernards had a response, with Tantleff crossing midfield on a 22-yard run before securing the outcome with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Gribbon with 3:47 to play.

BERNARDS  (8-3)  7-14-0-13-34

LINCOLN  (6-5)  0-6-6-14-26

SCORING SUMMARY

 

B - Gouldin 8 pass from Gribbon (Walsh kick)

L - Addison 1 run (kick failed)

B - Tantleff 38 run (Mastronardi run)

B - Tantleff 29 pass from Gribbon (run failed)

L - Zayas 12 run (run failed)

 

L - Addison 11 run (Leseur run)

B - Gouldin 20 pass from Gribbon (pass failed)

L - Addison 32 run (run failed)

B - Tantleff 31 pass from Gribbon (Walsh kick)

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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - B: Tantleff 15-111, Murphy 10-23,  Mastronardi 2-11, Caldwell 4-9, Gribbon 5-5; L: Addison 23-189,  Leseur 7-37, Zayas 8-31, Hillburn 3-9, Bethea 1-0, Casey 3-minus 3.

 

Passing - B: Gribbon 12-16-0-181; L: Hillburn 3-13-0-32, Zayas 1-1-0-8.

 

Receiving - B: Gouldin 5-94, Tantleff 2-60, Murphy 3-19, Mastronardi 2-8; L: Rush 2-28, Casey 2-12.