ORANGE GIVES VALIANT EFFORT VS. SUMMIT IN SECTIONAL FINAL AT GIANTS STADIUM

By JR Parachini
Union County Sports Editor

EAST RUTHERFORD – When Summit trailed Orange by 13 points in the second quarter – it was the first time the Hilltoppers were behind by two scores the entire season – senior Matt Rea came through with a huge block of an extra point attempt.

Perhaps lost in a game that included many big plays, Rea’s block served as a wakeup call for a team that - uncharacteristically - lost three fumbles in the first half, with the first two proving rather costly.

Rea then produced two highlight-reel touchdowns in the second half – one in the third quarter and one in the fourth – that came before and after Summit prevented Orange from tying the game on a two-point pass.

The Tornadoes had to go for two points with 5:02 left in the fourth quarter partly because of the missed extra point in the second quarter that Rea blocked.

Summit’s defense also prevented Orange from scoring after the Hilltoppers turned the ball over for a third time and then prevented the Tornadoes from putting more points on the board again in the third quarter when a long drive concluded with Orange missing a 35-yard field goal.

Rea’s second touchdown run and Summit’s 74th TD of the season came from 12 yards out.

How fitting was that No. 12 for top-seeded Summit, which went on to defeat sixth-seeded Orange 28-19 in Thursday night’s North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 championship game at Giants Stadium.

Rea’s 12-yard TD clinched Summit’s first 12-0 season. Add up those two 12s and you have Rea’s number – which is 24.

Summit also captured its sixth playoff championship and first since last winning North 2, Group 2 in 1994.

The Hilltoppers won a title at Giants Stadium for the first time since winning North 2, Group 3 for the second time in 1980.

Orange had a two-game winning streak snapped and finished 2009 with a winning record of 7-4, including a triumph at defending North 2, Group 2 champion Caldwell 10-7 in a semifinal played 12 days ago at Bonnel Field.

Summit’s John Liberato, who took over in 2007 after Summit went 1-9 in 2005 and 0-10 for the first time in 2006 and in those two seasons did not win a conference game, became the fourth head coach to guide the Hilltoppers to a playoff championship, joining legendary Howie Anderson (1976, 1980), Jim Benedict (1988, 1993) and Ray McCrann (1994).

Summit went 3-7 Liberato’s first year in 2007 and won two Iron Hills Conference-Hills Division games and a sectional consolation contest. The Hilltoppers finished 5-6 last year after reaching the North 2, Group 2 semifinals. Summit won at Hanover Park in the quarterfinals after losing to the Hornets in conference play.

This was Liberato’s first state championship as a head coach and his second time in a championship game. He guided Hanover Park to the 1999 North 2, Group 2 final.

With Rea leading the way, especially when fellow senior running back Dwaine Dabney had to sit out most of the fourth quarter after getting hit in the head on a play, Summit was in good hands when it came to moving the ball and extending the chains when it counted.

At 5-7, 165, Rea may not have the size you want to lead your football team, but he has the heart, the passion and the talent.

“Giants Stadium is a great place to play,” said Rea moments after Summit’s hard-fought triumph.

No doubt Rea was a giant among his fellow players Thursday night, despite his diminutive stature.

Orange, sparked by an outstanding performance from junior quarterback Contrez Hunter, has everything to be proud of for the effort the Tornadoes put forth.

Orange was the first team to take a two-touchdown lead on Summit and the only squad to be ahead of the Hilltoppers 13-0. Summit only previously trailed Somerville and Cranford 7-0.

Summit never trailed in the second half this year. Wow!

Orange was the closest to Summit in the second half, tailing the Hilltoppers by only one point in the third quarter at 14-13 and by just two in the fourth at 21-19.

The closest anybody was to Summit before Thursday night was Madison trailing by three points at 17-14 with three minutes left in the fourth quarter of their semifinal contest at Tatlock Field. Summit went on to win 23-14, with Rea scoring an insurance touchdown, just as he did against the Tornadoes.

Orange reached its first North 2, Group 2 playoff final in 2001, losing by 10 to West Essex 16-6 at Kean University in Union. Eight years later the Tornadoes got back to the final and lost by nine this time to Summit.

There were seven scores in the game – all touchdowns. Favored Summit scored four and underdog Orange three.

Orange fell short of its first playoff championship by being outscored four touchdowns to three.

The game was that close.

The effort and performance by both teams was that close.

It was truly a good enough game to kick off championship week at Giants Stadium.

The Hilltoppers captured their fourth North 2, Group 2 playoff title overall, with the other three coming in 1988, 1993 and 1994.

Summit became just the second Union County team to finish a season 12-0 and the first since Brearley accomplished the feat in 2006.

Here are the similarities:

Three years ago Brearley won North 2, Group 1 for the first time since 1991 and beat an Essex County opponent, Verona 21-20, at Giants Stadium to be state champs for the first time in 15 years.

Thursday night Summit won North 2, Group 2 for the first time since 1994 and beat an Essex County opponent, Orange 28-19, at Giants Stadium to be state champs for the first time in 15 years.

Brearley head coach Scott Miller played for Bob Taylor at Brearley Regional, who guided six teams to championships in the playoff era.

Liberato played for Frank Bottone at New Providence, who guided five teams to titles in the playoff era.

After being down 13-0, standout Summit senior quarterback Joe Jaskolski directed his team on scoring drives of 85 and 84 yards before and after Summit’s defense stopped Orange from possibly going up 20-7 after the Tornadoes had the ball deep in Hilltopper territory after Summit’s third turnover of the first half.

Jaskolski scored Summit’s first touchdown on a one-yard run and then threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to senior end Marcel Godino to tie the game at 13-13.

After Summit pulled to within 13-7 and then stopped Orange’s offense, the Tornadoes punted the ball back to the Hilltoppers. However, Godino – instead of letting the ball just roll dead on the punt - tried to pick it up and run with it. He lost control, with Orange’s Aaron Asokeji right there to recover the loose ball.

“I felt terrible,” Godino said. “I gave them such great field position on that punt. It was terrible, one of the worst feelings.”

Four plays later Godino was bailed out by the Summit defense, with senior back Jake Hall making a key tackle on a short third down pass completion and then senior end Ryan O’Malley came up with a huge tackle of Huner for a one-yard loss when Orange went for it on fourth-and-three from the Summit 15.

It was reported on the Summit sideline that Hall had his appendix removed just three weeks ago.

With just 2:43 left in the second quarter and Summit out of timeouts, runs by Jaskolski of four yards, Rea of nine, Dabney of 13, Rea of zero and then Jaskolski of 15, seven and three gave Summit a first-and-10 on the Orange 33 with just 25 seconds left.

Running a no-huddle most of the first half, Jaskolski dropped back to see if he could find a receiver open down field for one quick pass attempt.

He saw Godino single covered inside the five on the right side of the field and threw a ball that was a bit behind the 6-0, 165-pound end.

Fortunately for Summit the ball was under-thrown a bit, because if it had been on target, Orange senior defensive back Ahkeem Lewis might have been able to deflect the ball away with a hand.

Instead, Godino – when coming back for the ball – was able to shield his body in front of Lewis, catch the pass, and then run two yards into the end zone for the game’s tying points.

“I was just able to see the ball real well when Joe threw it,” said Godino, who caught a pass from Jaskolski for Summit’s first touchdown of the year against Hillside three months ago. “The defender wasn’t really looking so I just stopped, planted, caught the ball and did the rest.”

Orange players Daquan Boyd and Marquise Goods recovered Summit’s first two lost fumbles – Boyd on Summit’s first play from scrimmage when the ball was snapped, but Jaskolski and Dabney were not in position to receive it, and Goods after Dabney caught a pass and ran for a first down, only to lose the ball after a 14-yard gain.

“Those were killers,” Rea said. “I was worried, I’m not going to lie to you, but the last game against Madison we overcame adversity.”

“We didn’t panic and sort of stayed calm,” Godino said. “We said to ourselves that we’ve been down before and that we have to overcome it.

“That’s what we did. We told each other to stay strong and keep it in there.”

When the second half began, Summit held Orange to three downs and a punt and then Summit ran four plays, but did not gain a first down and was stopped at the Orange 37.

Then the Tornadoes went on a drive that took a whopping 20 plays, beginning on their own 37 and reaching the Summit 18 before a 35-yard field goal attempt from the right hash by senior placekicker Bernard Fanor was short and wide left.

The drive also took 7:08 off the clock, with Summit’s offense watching from the sidelines. The key play on the surge was when Hunter went back to punt on fourth-and-13 from his own 34.

Summit senior Sal Liberato blitzed through the line and was right there to block Hunter’s punt if he chose to kick the ball. However, Hunter saw Liberato right there and decided not to punt, but to run with it.

Hunter was able to muster up field for a 23-yard gain that gave Orange a first-and-10 on the Summit 43. A pass interference call on Summit gave the Tornadoes a first down on the 23.

On fourth-and-nine from the Summit 22, Hunter completed a big 12-yard pass to his favorite receiver on the night – junior end Malcolm Bagley. The play was good for a first-and-goal at the Summit 10.

After an incomplete pass on first down, Summit senior lineman Mike Watts made a huge play by sacking Hunter for an eight-yard loss.

Then on third-and-goal from the 18, Summit senior lineman Pat Birosak knocked the ball out of Hunter’s hands, with Orange senior guard Bensito Fonvil falling on the loose ball.

Orange head coach Randy Daniel, also in his second championship game and in his 14th year at the helm of the Tornadoes, decided to go for three points on fourth down, but the field goal fell short.

After finally getting the ball back, it took Summit only four plays to score its third touchdown. Following Jaskolski gaining 20 yards at left on a boot leg, the Hilltoppers had a first-and-goal from the Orange 45 with about a minute left in the third quarter.

Then what turned out to be a touchdown began as what could have been Summit’s fourth lost fumble.

It was not a smooth hand off from Jaskolski to Rea, with the ball bobbled in the air a bit before Rea had full control.

Rea then burst through a hole in the middle of the field, sprinted down the right sideline, broke free from a tackler at the 18 and then reversed field. He cut across the middle around the five-yard line and then ran straight ahead into the end zone.

Rea then fell down and looked straight up after giving the Hilltoppers six more points following one of the greatest runs in Summit history (perhaps a bit of hyperbole here, but what the heck).

“I didn’t even know what was going on at the time, I just wanted to get in the end zone,” Rea said. “Whoever was handling the snap mishandled it and I just saw it in the air for a second.

“I took it out of the air and saw a big hole open up. I just ran to daylight.”

To Orange’s credit, the Tornadoes never gave up and reached the end zone once more.

The only punt of the game by Summit lefty kicker Nolan Prinzen, with the senior getting off a good kick in the windy stadium that went for 38 yards, was returned by Orange’s Spencer Drice, with the 5-6, 160-pound speedster proving tough to bring down.

Drice immediately shrugged off one Summit tackler right after he caught the ball and then remained low to the ground before returning the kick 23 yards.

Orange took over on the Summit 47 with 9:12 left and was down 21-13. The Tornadoes needed a touchdown and a two-point conversion to become the first team to at least be deadlocked with the Tornadoes in the second half of a game this year.

Orange got the touchdown, but not the two-point conversion.

Hunter led the team down field, hitting Bagley for gains of 20 and seven yards and Lewis for a six-yard advancement on three pass completions on the drive.

On second-and-one from the Summit three, Hunter found his way into the end zone for his only score of the game as the three-year starter at QB had Orange that close to the Hilltoppers.

Rolling to his right on the ensuing and very crucial two-point conversion attempt and with Summit senior linebacker Brian Feeney draped all over him, Hunter threw a low ball to junior fullback Anthony Lagrier, who was open in the right corner of the end zone. However, Lagrier could only trap the low throw, with Orange stopped on the play.

Summit’s offense went back to work from its own 29 with 4:55 left and two timeouts remaining to Orange’s one.

Rea gained 11 yards on a run to the Orange 47 and then two plays later Jaskolski hit O’Malley on the right side for a huge 37-yard gain, with the 6-5, 200-pound end beating single coverage to come down with the key reception.

On the very next play from the Orange 12 and with only 2:18 remaining, Rea got to the outside on the left side and then ran into an Orange tackler and Jaskolski at the same time.

Jaskolski helped push Rea forward and then moved away, with Rea then dragging the Orange tackler until he broke free right before the end zone and then ran in for the game’s final score.

“I’m just so happy to get a ring in Giants Stadium,” Rea said.

“Our goal was to go 12-0 and win a state championship and to do that is just awesome, it’s an amazing feeling,” Godino said. “We always thought we were going to do this all season long. We weren’t going to settle for anything less.”

“We were put on the field a lot, but we responded great,” said O’Malley of Summit’s defense, which really had to make the most improvement this year and did so in a big way. “Our line did really well stopping the run and our secondary did great.

“They’re a throwing team and we spread out and everyone swarmed to the ball, it was great.”

“A lot of people said we don’t have a tough schedule and that our defense is not that good, but guess what, we’re Group 2 state champions and our kids love each other and they trust each other,” Liberato said. “I’m so happy for the kids and the way our community really backed us up.”

Summit’s offense got many of the headlines this year, but its defense rose to the occasion when it counted the most Thursday night.

Players like O’Malley, Watts, Feeney and Rea in the back sparked a unit that gave up a great deal of points last year, but really came together this season and showed what a lot of hard work and dedication can do.

“Words can’t describe this, this is amazing,” O’Malley said. “This is more than I imagined.”

“We put our defense in a very, very deep hole with those three turnovers inside the 20,” Liberato said. “Like they’ve done all year, they came through.”

Dabney, who rushed 10 times for 56 yards, but only twice for four in the second half, had a big smile on his face when the game ended after having to watch most of the fourth quarter from the bench.

“This is sweet, we worked all year for this,” Dabney said. “Since freshman year, this is what we’ve been playing for.”

Here’s what Dabney said happened on the play that knocked him out: “the play we ran was Q-left, the quarterback rolls out to the left.

“I saw a guy and went back for the crack block and our helmets made contact and my head got screwed up.”

Hunter had Orange in the end zone just four plays after Summit’s first turnover, with the Tornadoes taking advantage of a short field.

Drice gained 21 yards up the middle to the Summit one-yard line and then Lagrier scored on a yard run after Hunter was stopped twice on second- and third-and-goal from the one. Fanor’s extra point made it 7-0.

Drice scored Orange’s second touchdown on a one-yard run, capping an 11-play, 47-yard drive following Summit’s second turnover.

Daniel should be very proud of his team for the way it played. The Tornadoes sure gave Summit everything they had and proved to be a very worthy opponent.

“They were a team that was getting better and better as the year went on, obviously with their record and who they beat, defeating Cedar Grove and Caldwell,” Liberato said of the Tornadoes. “They’re a good team.”

NOTES: Summit senior placekicker Alex Melendez was a perfect 4-for-4 on extra point kicks and finished the season 66-of-68 – not bad. His second extra point against Orange was the game-winning point – putting Summit ahead for good at 14-13.

Summit finished with 74 touchdowns and outscored the opposition by an impressive 520-147 margin for a plus 372.

Summit won by an average score of 43.33 to 12.25 – or 43-12. That’s like winning every game six touchdowns to two. That’s dominance.

“Our kids were so battle-tested,” Liberato said. “The best part about our kids is they love each other, they trust each other, we’re blessed with a great team and we’re blessed with a great community.

“I thank God that we had the opportunity to do this.

“Our kids never panicked. The coaches never panicked.

“We just kept the petal to the metal. We were on a mission.

“Now the mission is accomplished.

“We’re a team that wants to get better and better and when things get tough you have to work a little harder and rely on each other.

“It was a huge character moment for us to come through and show what a true champion Summit football team is.”

Summit in 2009 and Brearley in 2006 were the only Union County teams to go undefeated this decade.

Union County’s other three state championship teams this decade were Elizabeth winning North 2, Group 4 in 2000 (11-1) and 2006 (11-1) and Johnson claiming North 2, Group 2 in 2002 (10-2).

Rea led all rushers with 130 yards on 17 carries, gaining 31 on six attempts in the first half and 93 on 11 in the second.

Jaskolski completed 5-of-8 passes for 94 yards and one touchdown in the first half and 1-of-2 for 37 yards in the second.

Six different Summit players caught Jaskolski’s six completions and in this order – senior end Shawn Hillas for 22 yards, Dabney for 14, senior Danny Feeney for 16, Brian Feeney for nine, Godino for 33 and the TD and O’Malley for 37.

Jaskolski carried the ball nine times for 106 yards, with 12 attempts for 71 yards - including his one-yard score in the second quarter - in the first half and three more carries for 35 yards in the second.

Hunter completed 5-of-7 passes for 24 yards in the first half, with Bagley catching three balls for 14 yards, Drice one for three and Goods one for three.

In the second half, Hunter completed 6-of-15 passes for 53 yards. Bagley caught four more passes in the second half for 44 yards, while Goods had another reception for three yards and Lewis one for six.

In the first half, Drice gained 35 yards on five carries, Hunter 31 on eight and Lagrier 33 on seven to give Orange 99 yards on 20 attempts.

Summit gained 154 yards on 26 attempts in the first half.

Hunter carried the ball the most for Orange in the second half, gaining 63 yards on 14 carries, including his three-yard touchdown run, before Orange’s final drive of the game when time expired.

Orange defensive players D’Andre Long and Marquise Monroe combined for a quarterback sack in the first quarter that went for a two-yard loss.




NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 2 FOOTBALL FINAL

AT GIANTS STADIUM, EAST RUTHERFORD

6-ORANGE (7-4) 7 6 0 6 - 19

1-SUMMIT (12-0) 0 14 7 7 - 28




FIRST QUARTER:

ORANGE – Anthony Lagrier 1 run, Bernard Fanor kick (O 7-0)

4 plays, 17 yards, 1:02 used – capitalized on turnover (fumble)



SECOND QUARTER:

ORANGE – Spencer Drice 1 run, kick failed (O 13-0)

11 plays, 47 yards, 4:10 used – capitalized on turnover (fumble)

SUMMIT – Joe Jaskolski 1 run, Alex Melendez kick (O 13-7)

13 plays, 85 yards, 3:59 used

SUMMIT – Marcel Godino 33 pass from Joe Jaskolski, Alex Melendez kick (S 14-13)

8 plays, 84 yards, 2:26 used



THIRD QUARTER:

SUMMIT – Matt Rea 45 run, Alex Melendez kick (S 21-13)

5 plays, 80 yards, 1:14 used



FOURTH QUARTER:

ORANGE – Contrez Hunter 3 run, pass failed (S 21-19)

8 plays, 47 yards, 4:10 used

SUMMIT – Matt Rea 12 run, Alex Melendez kick (S 28-19)

7 plays, 71 yards, 3:02 used





NORTH 2, GROUP 2 PLAYOFF CHAMPIONS:



2009 – Summit



2008 – Caldwell



2007 – West Essex



2006 – West Essex



2005 – Lodi



2004 – West Essex



2003 – West Essex



2002 – Johnson



2001 – West Essex



2000 – Pequannock



1999 – Pequannock



1998 – Caldwell



1997 – Caldwell



1996 – Dover



1995 – Johnson Regional



1994 – Summit



1993 – Summit



1992 - Dover



1991 – Caldwell



1990 – Hanover Park



1989 – Roselle



1988 – Summit



1987 – Jefferson



1986 – Jefferson



1985 – Hillside



1984 – Dover



1983 – Butler



1982 – Butler



1981 – Hackettstown



1980 – Whippany Park



1979 – Madison



1978 – Madison



1977 – Madison



1976 – New Providence



1975 – Madison



1974 – New Providence (declared)





TITLES WON:



West Essex – 5



Caldwell – 4



Madison – 4



Summit – 4



Dover – 3



Jefferson – 2



Butler – 2



Johnson – 2



Pequannock – 2



New Providence – 2



Whippany Park – 1



Hackettstown – 1



Hillside – 1



Roselle – 1



Hanover Park – 1



Lodi – 1