Hackensack Wraps Up 2025 Season with Impressive Win Over Teaneck on Thanksgiving Day

The Hackensack Comets (5-5) varsity football team wrapped up the 2025 season with a convincing 32-14 victory over the Teaneck Highwaymen (6-5) in the 91st annual Turkey Bowl, held at Tom Della Torre Field at Hackensack High School in Hackensack, New Jersey.

Hackensack received the opening kickoff and methodically drove down the field, consuming most of the first quarter. They successfully converted a key fourth down at the Teaneck 28-yard line to keep the drive alive. However, the Comets seemed poised to score first when quarterback Brian Brancato executed a touchdown run. Unfortunately, a holding penalty and unsportsmanlike conduct pushed the ball back to the 31-yard line, and the impressive 13-play drive ultimately ended in a turnover on downs.

Teaneck kept its first offensive possession alive by advancing on a fourth-and-one deep in its own territory. Still, the Hackensack defense forced a short punt that landed in Highwaymen territory. Capitalizing on the short field, the Comets ran the ball effectively to advance further. In the second quarter, Hackensack reached the Teaneck 19-yard line, where quarterback Brian Brancato took the snap in shotgun formation, ran straight ahead, bounced off several tacklers, and spun into the end zone for a spectacular touchdown.

Responding immediately, Teaneck advanced rapidly into the Comets' territory, sparked by a 42-yard pass from quarterback Rhys Lugo to wide receiver Deyton Walcott, bringing the ball to the one-yard line. On first and goal, Lugo took the direct snap and powered across the goal line, tying the game at 7-7 with less than 11 minutes left in the half.

The back-and-forth action continued as Hackensack's offense swiftly moved the ball, mixing running and passing plays to enter Teaneck territory. On second down at the Highwaymen's 32-yard line, Brian Brancato tossed a pass in the flat to running back Caleb Collins, who then accelerated down the right sideline and into the end zone, putting the Comets back in front at 13-7 after a missed extra point with less than six minutes remaining in the half.

Teaneck looked to tie the game again, but the Hackensack defense stood firm and forced a turnover on downs near midfield. The Comets faced a crucial fourth-and-two at the Highwaymen's 42-yard line and opted for a fake punt run by Laron Young, resulting in a 22-yard gain.

As the second quarter was winding down, Brian Brancato took the snap, quickly dropped back, and fired a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Anthony Diaz. This extended Hackensack's lead to 19-7 with just 15 seconds left in the half.

Teaneck received the second-half kickoff and regained composure, moving into a solid offensive rhythm. The Highwaymen converted a critical fourth-down play at their own 32-yard line. However, just when they seemed poised to score, a fourth-and-three play resulted in another turnover on downs as Comets defensive lineman Danny Nifah batted down a pass.

With six and a half minutes remaining in the third quarter, Hackensack got the ball back and began to fire on all cylinders in both its running and passing games. The Comets capped the drive as running back Laron Young took the handoff, surged ahead, and barreled into the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown, widening the lead to 25-7 with 42 seconds left in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Hackensack's defense continued to dominate, with defensive back Michael DiVittorio intercepting a pass in Comets territory. Teaneck tried to regain its offensive rhythm with less than nine minutes remaining, but kept making mistakes.

Quarterback Rhys Lugo threw a pass downfield, but Hackensack defensive back Dalen Gandy-Everett intercepted it and raced 75 yards for a touchdown, thrilling the home crowd.

Teaneck managed to respond on their next drive, with Lugo completing a 53-yard touchdown pass to Deyton Walcott, trimming the deficit to 32-14. The Highwaymen attempted an onside kick, but Hackensack's special teams unit successfully recovered the ball.

The Comets' offense then ran out the clock, and in the final moments, the offensive line celebrated by lifting quarterback Brian Brancato into the air to mark the momentous victory.