Old Tappan Captures Second Straight North Jersey Section 1, Group 3 Title with Dominating Win Over Wayne Hills

The Northern Valley Old Tappan Golden Knights (11-0) continued their impressive performance over the past year by securing their second consecutive North Jersey Section 1, Group 3 Title with a convincing 42-14 victory over the Wayne Hills Patriots (9-3). This win extended their undefeated streak to 16 games at Northern Valley Regional High School in Old Tappan, New Jersey.

Old Tappan wasted no time, scoring just six seconds into the first quarter. On Wayne Hills' first offensive possession, Golden Knights player Christakis Nicolaou intercepted a pass and returned it for a Pick-Six, putting Old Tappan ahead 7-0.

After the Old Tappan defense forced a quick three-and-out, the Golden Knights' offense moved into Patriots territory, with quarterback Zach Miceli completing two consecutive passes to wide receiver Joseph Crescitelli. Miceli showcased his speed with a 17-yard run, but a loss on a jet sweep and a false start penalty set them back to the ten-yard line, facing a fourth down.

Remaining composed, Zach Miceli took the snap, dropped back in the pocket, and threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Leo Etter, extending the lead.

Wayne Hills responded quickly on the ensuing kickoff return when Chemoh St. Paul fielded the ball at the 16-yard line, weaving through traffic and sprinting untouched into the end zone to make it 14-7 with just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Old Tappan quickly regained control, starting their next drive at their own 24-yard line. They moved the ball downfield efficiently, converting a crucial fourth-and-one at their own 45-yard line. The Golden Knights mixed their running and passing plays effectively, culminating in a two-yard touchdown by running back Devyn Radoian, increasing their advantage to 21-7.

The Patriots struggled on their next offensive series, ending in a punting error when the punter’s knee hit the ground, giving Old Tappan excellent field position. The Golden Knights capitalized, with Zach Miceli connecting with Leo Etter for a touchdown after Etter shook off a defender. This brought the score to 28-7 with five minutes left in the half.

Both teams exchanged turnovers rapidly over the next twenty seconds. Wayne Hills began on their own 35-yard line and quickly advanced into Golden Knights territory with a 48-yard pass from quarterback Mike Fitzsimons to wide receiver David Van Hook. However, Old Tappan's defense held strong, forcing a turnover on downs with a tipped pass.

Instead of running out the clock, Old Tappan's offense moved decisively down the field, highlighted by a 40-yard run from Devyn Radoian. Zach Miceli completed several passes, and with time winding down, he faked a handoff and threw a pass to a wide-open Shane Small in the end zone. This increased Old Tappan's lead to 35-7 with just 22 seconds left in the half.

In the third quarter, Old Tappan received the second-half kickoff and employed a power running attack led by Damian DuToit, who carried the ball extensively thanks to a solid offensive line. They executed an impressive 12-play, 67-yard drive that consumed over seven minutes of the clock, culminating in a two-yard touchdown by DuToit, boosting the lead to 42-7.

Early in the fourth quarter, Wayne Hills managed to score again on a 33-yard touchdown run by running back Ethan Zacharski, but this would be the final score of the game. As the clock wound down, Old Tappan's players streamed onto the field, celebrating their sectional title victory.

Next, Old Tappan will face the West Morris Central Wolfpack (12-0) in the NJSIAA Group 3 Semifinals on Friday, November 21st, at West Morris Central High School in Chester, New Jersey, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.