Friday at Giants Stadium
November 29, 2025
Friday at Giants Stadium featured two Catholic school championships and two from the Public schools. The winners were DePaul, Washington Township, Cedar Creek, and St. Joe’s (Montvale).
DePaul-Paramus Catholic
In the first game, DePaul jumped out to an early 14-0 lead on two touchdown runs by quarterback Derek Zammit. The opening drive consumed more than seven minutes, resulting in a 1-yard score, while the second drive brought a 22-yard Zammit run. Just before halftime, Paramus Catholic had a first-and-goal, but turned the ball over on downs, resulting in no score. DePaul began the third quarter with another score on a long run by Zammit.
Paramus Catholic brought in senior quarterback Marco Green for the second half, who led the Paladins to two scores, but that was all they could do, as DePaul won, 21-12.
I thought Paramus Catholic had a chance going into the game, but DePaul’s first two scores were crucial. I thought they could win, as long as DePaul’s lead wasn’t more than two scores. The third quarter score to make it 21-0 in DePaul’s favor was too much. PC scored twice, but they were nine points short.
Washington Township-Passaic Tech
I thought Washington Township would win heading into this game, and they did, but not in the way I thought. They opened the game with a long drive, but a penalty hurt them, and they kicked a field goal for a 3-0 lead. Passaic Tech came right back and scored on a drive that extended into the second quarter on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Gabriel Miles to an open Tyson Watkins near the goal line. The extra point failed, and it was 6-3, Passaic Tech.
The lead held until there were 4-5 minutes left in the third quarter when a Washington Township avalanche came out and got stronger over the next eleven minutes of play, scoring 28 points in that stretch and going ahead, 31-6. Jaylen Robinson scored three touchdowns: 25, 65, and 12 yards. There was also a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jyair Moore from Cole Aquino, a beautiful pass into the deep, left corner of the end zone. The Minutemen broke out in a big way, and that was the difference.
Cedar Creek-Old Tappan
Cedar Creek won the battle up front, and their skill players dazzled in a big way for a 34-7 win over Old Tappan. After a scoreless first quarter, Cedar Creek got on the board when Aamir Dunbar found an inside lane for a 9-yard touchdown run. He later scored on a 6-yard run to give the Pirates a 14-0 halftime lead. They opened the third quarter with an 85-yard kick return by Gyan King for the score. Jahmir Campfiield scored on a run of approximately 50 yards, followed by a 14-yard run by quarterback Frenchmon Bethea to make it 34-7 by the end of the third quarter.
I know South Jersey will win a majority of public school championships, but this game made me realize that it is worse than I thought. Cedar Creek dominated and made an undefeated Old Tappan look very average. I have respect for the Old Tappan program thanks to Coach Brian Dunn and his staff. However, Cedar Creek was the better team, and they beat OT worse than the score. Old Tappan has not seen the speed of a Cedar Creek team, and it showed tonight. In addition, they were beaten soundly up front.
St. Joe’s (Montvale)-Don Bosco
In a game that had its swings in momentum, St. Joe’s came out the victor, 24-21, over Don Bosco. Bosco started with a 50-yard touchdown pass from Carson Schoen to Isaiah Alvarez, only to be answered by a 38-yard touchdown pass from Lamar Best to Stalin Knowlden. Bosco went back out front when Schoen connected with Zakai Murphy on a 38-yard score and a 14-7 lead in the second quarter. Things were looking good for Bosco when Joe’s blocked a punt in Bosco territory, and a penalty on the play gave the Green Knights a first-and-goal. They settled for a field goal to make it 14-0.
In the middle of the third quarter, Nate Bailey took the handoff for St. Joe’s and ran 35 yards to the end zone to put the Green Knights in front for the first time, 17-14. Bosco fumbled the ensuing kickoff, with Joe’s recovering on the 20. A pass interference penalty on Bosco brought the ball to the 10, and Best scored on the next play, fighting his way into the end zone, and it was 24-14, a major swing. Bosco narrowed the gap when Dante DeLuca scored on a 4-yard run out of the wildcat to make it 24-21 with five minutes left. The Ironmen had their chance to win with two minutes remaining, but their fourth-down pass was incomplete, giving St. Joe’s the win.