Football: North Hunterdon headed to 1st title game since 1978
CLINTON – For years the North Hunterdon High School football program suffered from a reputation of falling short in games it needed to make a significant step. But this is an entirely different year.
The Lions have been winning big games on a weekly basis and Friday night was the biggest example – so far.
Second-seeded North Hunterdon turned in a 29-7 defeat of No. 6 Sayreville in a NJSIAA North 2 Group IV semifinal at Singley Field. The Lions earned their first final berth since 1978 and will get a chance to capture their second title and first since 1975 when they play top-seeded and undefeated Phillipsburg. The game will be played the weekend of Nov. 30-Dec. 3 at a time and location to be announced. North Hunterdon’s one loss this season was to Phillipsburg, 20-7, on Oct. 27.
MEDIA BLITZ: WEEK 11 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FRENZY
FOOTBALL: MID-STATE 37 NJSIAA SEMIFINAL ROUNDUP
FOOTBALL: SOMERVILLE ADVANCES TO CENTRAL GROUP III FINAL
FOOTBALL: BOUND BROOK FALLS TO PT. BEACH IN CENTRAL GROUP I
North Hunterdon (10-1) earned an opportunity to avenge that loss by scoring 29 unanswered points against the defending North 2 Group IV champion and perennial contender Sayreville (6-5). The Bombers have won five titles in eight trips to the final.
“We knew what we had to do coming in, we had to be physical and match their physicality because what we heard all week was about how physical Sayreville was and that was our message,” North Hunterdon coach Jared Mazzetta said.
The Lions held Sayreville’s 1,000-yard rusher Connor Holmes to just 45 yards. He came into the game averaging 123 yards per game. North Hunterdon finished with a 294-158 edge in total offense. The Bombers were limited to 98 yards of offense after their touchdown with 40 seconds left in the first quarter.
“The defense played lights out, they held an explosive team to seven points,” Mazzetta said.
The Lions fed off the defensive effort to rally for the second-straight week. Sayreville dominated field position early when it took a 7-0 lead on sophomore quarterback Mark Whitford’s 14-yard pass to junior Jacari Carter with 40 seconds left the first quarter and got an interception from Damani Coombs in North Hunterdon territory.
Sayreville had an ideal chance to take a two touchdown lead in the second quarter, but the Bombers fumbled the ball with the Lions’ Kyle Hensler making the strip and Dienes Carbine recovering at North Hunterdon's four-yard line.
The Lions responded with a 13-play drive that set up John Spies’ 36-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3 with 3:47 left in the half. That drive featured a 43-yard completion from senior quarterback Matt Busher to his favorite target - senior wide receiver Jared McMahon - and Busher’s 15-yard run.
The Lions then stopped Sayreville on its next possession and took advantage of a poor punt, resulting in a dramatic change in field position. Busher’s 5-yard yard run on a fourth-and-three from the Bomber 41 kept the drive alive. Busher then hit Luke Ingenito for 17 yards to the Bomber 20. After two incompletions, Busher connected with McMahon for a touchdown with 15 seconds left in the half for a 10-7 lead.
“I had Jared one-and-one with the safety, (McMahon) is just so athletic, I wouldn’t doubt him getting open on anybody in the state,” Busher said. “Jared broke a route off and was wide open. I just put the ball in there for him to catch. That was a big route, a big play, a big score.”
That pass gave Busher 17 touchdown passes for the season, a single-season program record.
“It was the momentum we needed, it was back and forth it was a close game, 7-3 and then hitting that up top at the end,” Mazzetta said. “Having the ball in Busher’s hands before the half is always key. Our two minute offense tends to do pretty well.”
The second half was all North Hunterdon.
“We knew what we had to do at halftime,” Mazzetta said. “We needed to come out, run the ball, make big plays with the passing game.”
Sayreville won the game-opening toss and chose to kick. So the Bombers had the ball first in the second half, but North Hunterdon forced a three-and-out and a shanked punt gave the Lions the ball at the Bomber 43. On the first play, Busher hit Ingenito in the end zone for a 16-7 lead with 9:48 left in the third quarter.
“I found Ingenito, he had room, I found him, I just let him go and get it,” Busher said. “That was huge. That was a game changer.”
North Hunterdon's offensive line of junior right tackle Sean Seibert, senior left tackle Jimmy Tordick, junior right guard Nick Paulter, junior center Jack Stothoff, senior left guard Joe Abbas and senior back Noah Quental kept the impressive Bomber rush off Busher and allowed him time to throw.
Busher finished 13-of-24 for 187 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also scrambled for a 3-yard score, his ninth of the season, with 8:40 left in the game.
“I never figured on this when I got to high school. Coming into this year I knew we could be pretty good but not this good. I am so excited to be playing in a state final,” said McMahon, who finished with nine catches for 126 yards.