New Providence seeks first finals berth since 2010 when Hasbrouck Heights visits Friday

It’s been a minute since New Providence has played for a state title, but they’re a win away from getting that opportunity.

And if this week’s North 2, Group 1 semifinal game for the second-seeded Pioneers (8-2) against third-seed Hasbrouck Heights (7-2) goes anything like last week’s opening round playoff game, they will get that chance.

New Providence scored seven touchdowns last week, three off turnovers, never punted, and reached the end zone every single possession except for the two that ended each half. They won the turnover battle (+3) and their quarterback T.J. Munn and starting runningback A.J. Whitehead chewed up yard after yard in a 49-24 win over Boonton Saturday afternoon.

You can hear that game as our “Big Central Game of the Week” presented by Bellamy & Son Paving, with kickoff at 6:00 Friday night and pregame at 5:45 pm. Mike Pavlichko will be on the call with analyst Max Scheiner; click here to listen.

Munn has thrown for just 528 yards this year as the Pioneers focus on the ground game, where he’s second on the team in rushing with 925 yards to Whitehead, who leads the team with 971 yards on the ground, along with 12 touchdowns. Munn has rushed for a team-best 13 TDs.

The Avaiators, meanwhile, are even more focused on the run game, throwing for barely 800 yards as a team while rolling off almost 2,400 yards on the ground. Defensively, they have a beast defensive end in Joseph Russo, who’s tallied an eye-popping 13 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. Eoin Maloney (pronounced “Owen”) and Nico Nipitella each have three interceptions on the year.

New Providence last made the finals in 2010, finishing 11-1 and winning the North 2, Group 1 title with a 21-8 win over Lincoln under the legendary Frank Bottone. The program’s founder, Bottone retired after that game; he passed away in 2017.