HS Football: Playoff game unraveles quick for Gov. Livingston

ROCKAWAY - The Governor Livingston High School football team was down, but not out, against Morris Hills as the first half was drawing to a close in the first round of the North 2, Group III playoffs Saturday afternoon.

But in a matter of a few moments, things would get a whole lot worse for the Highlanders.

Governor Livingston wound up absorbing a 47-7 setback, but the visitors were hanging around as the game settled in near the end of the first half.

Trailing just 14-0, Governor Livingston drove from its own 30 down to the Morris Hills 38. But the drive not only stalled there, the team shifted into reverse -- and the Highlanders' chances to get back into the game all but vanished.

The visiting Highlanders drive began to end when Will Nicholson was hit for a 1-yard loss on second down. On third-and-8, quarterback Quinn Haddad was nailed for a 6-yard loss.

Then on fourth-and-14 on the Scarlet Knights 45, things unraveled and the game got away from Governor Livingston.

The Highlanders chose to go for it at the Morris Hills 45 and Scarlet Knights linebacker Nick Walls got into the backfield and sacked Haddad for a 10-yard loss with just 37 seconds left in the half.

On Morris Hills next play from scrimmage, quarterback Daymon Fleming unloaded a perfect pass to 6-3 tight end Devon Caruso, who outleaped two GL defenders, came down with the ball, and ran up the right sideline into the end zone for a stunning score and a 21-0 Morris Hills lead.

So in a matter of just four plays, the Highlanders saw their promising drive stall, they went for it on fourth down near midfield, their quarterback got sacked for a 10-yard loss, and they surrendered a touchdown bomb.

Ballgame.

"That was a miscommunication in protection," GL coach Dan Guyton said. "We made a mistake and he got sacked. That could have been a 14-point swing right there."

"We were on fire coming out to start the game," Caruso said. "We stress at that time for the O-Line to block. It was a great pass. I caught it, and no one tackled me when I came down. I just headed for the pylon."

"It was a waggle," Fleming added. "I know if I put it in the right spot, my guys can make the play."

In the second half, the Scarlet Knights, seizing an opportunity to advance in the postseason and win their first state championship since 1975, forced a three-and-out and went 79 yards and scored when Angelo Macera (7 for 82 rushing) scored a 45-yard touchdown run.

GL mounted its lone touchdown drive in response and scored when Nicholson went in from 1-yard out to complete a 65-yard, 13-play march.

But after that, the Scarlet Knights left no doubt and scored the final three times it had the ball when Walls bulled his way into the end zone for a 1-yard score, Sam Valerio (4 for 85) ripped off a 77-yard touchdown run, and freshman Carlos Delgado -- whose name was not even on the roster -- scored a 9-yard touchdown.

The Scarlet Knights dominated up front, ran the ball almost at will (39 carries for 333 yards for 8.54 per carry), threw well just when it needed to, and was dominant on defense for most of the afternoon.

Morris Hills took the opening kickoff at its own 48 and promptly went 52 yards in seven rushing plays, scoring when Fleming ran in from 1 yard out.

"It all starts up front," said Fleming. "We want to come out and rush for 250-300 yards."

Midway in the second period, Morris Hills began pulling away. The Scarlet Knights went 97 yards in one drive and scored in eight plays when Walls pounded his way into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown run.

The biggest play in the drive was the first one, when Fleming connected with Dajon Chappell for a 45-yard completion and a facemask penalty was assessed to Governor Livingston. Five plays later, Macera broke free for a 14-yard run on a trap play and Walls scored two plays later. The second of five Damian Gonzalez extra points made it 14-0.

"Obviously, we lost to a good team, all the credit goes to them," Guyton said. "There were several plays throughout that could have gone here or there that if we made them that would have helped our chances. But we didn't make those plays, obviously."