Rutherford 28 Hanover Park 7 

November 4, 2023

Rutherford was in complete control the entire game and beat Hanover Park, 28-7. The Bulldogs are advancing to the North Jersey Section 1 final against Westwood, a rematch of last year’s sectional final. 

First Quarter: Rutherford struck on the second play of the game when Myles Balchan found a wide open Ryan Ward for a 77-yard touchdown, who had gotten past the secondary and rolled down the right sideline. The Bulldog defense forced a three-and-out, took over on their 42, and ate up seven minutes, scoring on a 1-yard run by Cole Goumas out of the wildcat. 

Second Quarter: Hanover Park moved the ball and had a first-and-goal on the 10-yard line. They advanced to the 1 for a fourth down, but Joey Filippone lost three yards and Rutherford took over. The Bulldogs moved the ball behind the running of Goumas and Balchan found Ward on the left sideline for a 28-yard touchdown to make it 21-0 with six minutes left. Hanover Park got past midfield, but turned the ball over on downs. 

Third Quarter: Very little went on with teams trading punts, a Rutherford fumble, and Hanover Park turning it over on downs. 

Fourth Quarter: Rutherford made it 28-0 on a 1-yard Goumas run that was set up by a Ward reception on the previous play. Hanover Park moved the ball and was on the scoreboard when Joey Borrello found Kevin Loparnos for a 28-yard touchdown with six minutes left. Whatever chance Hanover Park had was cut short by a Matt Scheibe interception and Rutherford ran out the clock. 

Comments: Ward was the star of this game with two touchdown receptions and making plays on defense. The defense was able to limit the run game and had the huge second quarter stop on fourth down that was the game’s biggest play. Once that play was made, there was never any point after that when I thought they could lose. 

Hanover Park was stung early, but had their chance to get back in the game when they had a first-and-goal on the 10. But being stopped short on fourth down early in the second quarter ended that chance. It was all Rutherford throughout most of the game, but Hanover Park is a solid team and will be in the thick of things next year.