Hasbrouck Heights 29 Park Ridge 15
October 19, 2025
Hasbrouck Heights scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to break a 15-15 tie, along with 21 unanswered points to beat Park Ridge, 29-15.
First Quarter: Each team had four full possessions, with three ending up in a punt, and the other was a turnover on downs. There was also only one first down, by Park Ridge, but they ended up punting.
Second Quarter: Hasbrouck Heights bridged the two quarters with a drive, picking up three first downs. But quarterback Nico Nipitella fumbled on a run, with Brandon Santos returning it 11 yards to the Heights 48. Park Ridge went eight plays and went on the board when Patrick Randolph scored on a 5-yard run through the middle for a 7-0 lead with just over four minutes remaining. Mike Napolitano picked up 4 yards on the next play from scrimmage, followed by Nipitella’s 60-yard run for a touchdown. On the extra point, a penalty was called on Park Ridge, and Heights decided to go for two points, with a successful conversion putting the Aviators ahead, 8-7, with three minutes remaining.
Third Quarter: Park Ridge came out with the ball and drove ten plays, going ahead when Randolph scored from a yard out. The Owls went for two, scoring on a run by Aidan O’Connor to make it 15-8. The big play on the drive was a pass from O’Connor to Anthony Sbarbaro for 25 yards. Heights returned the favor and tied the game at 15-all when Napolitano scored a 3-yard touchdown on the jet sweep. Two runs by Nipitella gained 17 and 14 yards, while Napolitano had a run for 12 yards on the drive.
Fourth Quarter: Napolitano ran 23 yards to the 17 on the third quarter’s final play to set Heights up. On fourth-and-19, Nipitella found Armani Mora just past the first-down marker for 21 yards to the 5 for a first-and-goal. Three plays later, Napolitano scored from one yard out to put Heights up, 21-15, with eight minutes left. The Aviator defense forced a Park Ridge punt, taking over on their 42. Two runs by Napolitano brought a first down, and Nick Haines went 44 yards down the left sideline for the touchdown and a 29-15 lead with 4:45 to go. Park Ridge’s last drive resulted in a turnover on downs, with Heights eventually taking a knee.
Comments: Heights got moving after a sluggish start. They kept mostly on the ground and rushed for 280 yards; Napolitano had 116 and 2 touchdowns on 20 carries, and Nipitella had 101 and a touchdown on 9. Future star Haines had 61 yards and a touchdown on 5 carries. They started slowly, and several penalties hurt them before settling down.
Park Ridge deserves credit for having 21 healthy players and four who were out due to injury. They had their moments and went in front in the third quarter. Randolph ran well between the tackles, gaining 61 yards and 2 touchdowns on 24 carries; his yards were the tough variety. The Owls were in the game for three quarters, but there are four, and that was the difference.