Woodbridge QB Derek Anderson gets set to take a snap in the second half of a home playoff loss to Northern Highlands on November 8, 2024. (Photo: Marcus Borden)
When they look back on it, the Woodbridge football team had a wild ride in 2024.
With a perfect regular season for the third time in six seasons, with a new coach at the helm in Joe Goerge, and with the Anderson twins mixing it up night after night, the Barrons looked strong heading into the playoffs, and dismantled Watchung Hills 35-15 in the opening round.
But a week later, it all came screeching to a halt, as the second-seeded Barrons were knocked off at home by third-seed Northern Highlands – which beat them in the North 1, Group 4 final in 2019, one of their other perfect regular seasons – 26-7 Friday night at Priscoe Field.
The Highlanders (6-4) built a 26-0 lead before Woodbridge would get on the board. Junior Chase Calarco opened the scoring in the second quarter with a 33-yard touchdown catch, then ran for a 20-yarder before Peter Vafiadis booted a 22-yard field goal to make it 17-0 at the half.
He kicked another from 24 yards out in the third, then ran in another touchdown from ten yards away in the fourth before the Barrons got on the board. The twin connection hooked up one last time – Derek Anderson to Bryan Anderson – for a three-yard touchdown pass that would finish off the scoring on the night.
Woodbridge finishes its season 10-1, while Northern Highlands will play at top-seed Phillipsburg Friday night in the North 2, Group 4 title game.
Click below for postgame reaction from Northern Highlands with Marcus Borden, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:
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