Passaic Tech 28 West Orange 21
Passaic Tech scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2:28 remaining when Gabe Miles found Ian McDuffie for a 22-yard score. David Moore Jr.’s ensuing kick return set up West Orange at the PCT 17, before a fourth-down pass was incomplete with five seconds left, giving Passaic Tech the 28-21 victory.
First Quarter: The teams exchanged punts to open the game and West Orange quarterback Charlie LaMorte connected with Moore for a 40-yard completion to the 21-yard line. After an incomplete pass, LaMorte found Terrell Wilfong for the touchdown and a 7-0 lead. PCY answered when Kadir Younge ran 9 yards to their 42 and Miles found McDuffie for a 58-yard score to even things up. West Orange picked up three first downs to midfield before stalling and punting to the 2-yard line. A PCT penalty moved the ball back to the 1, setting up a 99-yard score from Miles to Joel Perez to move in front 14-7 less than one minute into the second quarter.
Second Quarter: Moore returned the kick to the PCT 44 and a pass to Wilfong went 24 yards to the 15. But the Mountaineers turned it over on downs. Passaic Tech began on their 10-yard line and a pass to Mikael Simon picked up 24 yards. But Micah Howell intercepted and the LaMorte-to-Wilfong combo struck again on the following play, tying the score, 14-14 with 7:18 left. PCT drove down the field and a 20-yard completion to McDuffie gave the Bulldogs a first down on the 12. Three plays later, McDuffie was open in the end zone for an 11-yard score with two minutes left. The extra point failed and the Bulldogs were up 20-14.
Third Quarter: Each team intercepted a pass to begin the second half. Christopher Barrino did the honors for West Orange and Jayden Santiago answered for Passaic Tech, going 94 yards for an apparent touchdown, but a penalty brought the ball back to their 26. West Orange drove the ball and LaMorte found Wilfong again for an 11-yard score on fourth-and-5 to move in front, 21-20 fourteen seconds into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter: After a PCT punt, West Orange began their drive on the Tech 47. Farad Green ripped off runs of 11 and 13 yards, giving the Mountaineers a first down on the 23. They went to Green again and he had another nice run until he fumbled and the Tech recovered on the 12-yard line. The Bulldogs went thirteen plays, consuming six minutes. Using a balanced attack, they picked up a first down on the West Orange 22 and Miles found McDuffie, who evaded a defender to get into the end zone for the touchdown with 2:28 left. The Bulldogs successfully went for two points to take the lead, 28-21. Moore returned the ensuing kickoff to the PCT 17. After picking up a first down, on the 7, LaMorte was sacked back to the 16. The Mountaineers had a fourth down from the 11 and LaMorte’s pass was behind the intended receiver and fell incomplete, enabling Passaic tech to take a knee and emerge victorious.
Comments: With a cast of mostly new starters, Passaic Tech got the job done and there are names we will hear from in the future. They showed a different dimension from past run-based teams with the passing of Miles, who unofficially passed for 262 yards and four touchdowns. McDuffie caught three touchdown passes and had 4 receptions for 111 yards – I was told he played four different positions each on offense and defense. He also told me after the game that he knew he would score on the winning reception once he caught the ball. The Bulldogs are still a team finding its way with many new starters on both sides of the ball. They always have some top athletes, but they always have their share of scrappy overachievers. I expect them to improve and be in the thick of things late in the year.
West Orange has to be kicking themselves with the opportunities they had. And as I said in last night’s Passaic Valley-Caldwell report, former NY Islander color man Ed Westfall would have said, “Opportunities, Jiggs, West Orange is not taking advantage of the opportunities!” They advanced the ball into the red zone four times and came up empty. They made it as far as the 10 in the second quarter, the 6 in the third, and the 12 and 7 on their last two drives. The drives ended with two incompletions, a fumble, and an interception. Passaic Tech’s defense deserves some credit, but West Orange had their chances.
The Mountaineers have weapons in Wilfong and Moore. Wilfong looked like the Sky King, stretching for balls for receptions and he ended up with six for 118 yards and 3 touchdowns. Moore is also a weapon, catching 5 for 76 yards and his kick returns set the Mountaineers up in good field position.