Ramapo was sharp in a 35-7 win over Old Tappan.
They got things going on their first drive when AJ Wingfield found Max Baker for a 48-yard touchdown. Old Tappan came right back and looked as if they were ready to tie it with a first-and-goal from the 5-yard line. After a run and three incomplete passes, Ramapo held its ground. They went right down the field on a 97-yard drive, scoring on a 3-yard Baker counter to the left and it was 14-0 on the first play of the second quarter.
After Old Tappan returned the ensuing kickoff to the Ramapo 30, Miles Shifar forced and recovered Drew Dippolito’s fumble at midfield. Wingfield found Ty Jaten for a 16-yard touchdown as Jaten dove across the goal line at the left pylon. The Raiders made it 28-0 when Wingfield scored from seven yards out. Old Tappan threatened when Dippolito found John Carraciolo for 33 yards down the right sideline to the 25 in what was a beautiful catch by Carraciolo. After having a first down on the 12-yard line, OT turned it over on downs to end the half.
Ramapo made it 35-0 when Wingfield and Baker connected again for a 45-yard touchdown to make it 35-0. The game was on a running clock very briefly until Old Tappan scored on an 8-yard run by Chris D’Amico to make it 35-7 just after Dipolito completed a 56-yard pass to Kevin Weis to the 14.
In the end, Ramapo was too much for Old Tappan. Their offense was precision-like, as Winfield was effective running and passing, with Ramapo receivers also showing good hands. Their defense had Dippolito running for his life much of the evening and came up with the needed stop at the right time.
They say that a handful of plays shape a game and if I had to go five, I would go with:
- The opening score by Ramapo just after the opening kickoff.
- Old Tappan throwing an incomplete pass on fourth-and-goal.
- Ramapo scoring on first-and-goal.
- Ramapo recovering a fumble on the ensuing drive at midfield.
- Old Tappan unable to score on fourth down just before the half after a first down on the 12.
Those five plays shaped the game and all of them favored Ramapo. That is why they won 35-7 and why they will be very hard to beat this year.