Ramapo Dominates in Season-Opening Shutout Win Over Irvington

The Ramapo Raiders (1-0) cruised to a 35-0 victory over the Irvington Blue Knights in their 2025 regular season and home opener at Drew Gibbs Field/Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

Ramapo received the opening kickoff and quickly advanced the ball down the field by mixing run and passing plays. A ten-play, 63-yard drive consumed three minutes of the clock and culminated in a three-yard touchdown run by running back Liam Hayward( 14 carries for 66 yards).

With three minutes left in the quarter, the Raiders' offense added more points on the scoreboard. Quarterback Casey Grusser threw a pass in the flat to wide receiver Joseph Santo Yessis, who sprinted down the right side of the field, evading several defenders and reaching the end zone for a 47-yard touchdown.

After the Ramapo defense made a critical stop on an Irvington drive that reached the nine-yard line, the Raiders' offense continued to excel, steadily driving into Blue Knights territory. Ramapo's offensive line dominated the trenches, creating large holes for the running backs to exploit.

On second and goal from the one-yard line, Casey Grusser took the snap and plowed straight ahead into the end zone, capping off an impressive 15-play, 81-yard drive that lasted over four minutes.

On Irvington's next offensive possession, disaster struck when a pass play resulted in a fumble, which was recovered by cornerback Joseph Santo Yessis at the Blue Knights' 40-yard line.

The Raiders capitalized on the turnover, needing just four plays to find the end zone again. Grusser threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Ballan with less than five minutes remaining in the half.

Ramapo's defense continued to wreak havoc, forcing Irvington's offense into another three-and-out.

The Raiders' offense thrived on the momentum, with Grusser(11 for 14, 181 yards) completing a pair of passes while also breaking free for a 16-yard run. Once inside the red zone, Ramapo relied on a strong ground game to drive deeper into Blue Knights territory.

The Raiders capped off a spectacular first half as running back Gino Gorga executed a couple of nifty moves and barreled into the end zone.