Ramapo scores often, gets key defensive stops to claim back-to-back North 1, Group 4 titles; will visit Phillipsburg Friday in Group 4 semis

Much like Somerville and Delsea Friday night in the Central Jersey Group 3 championship game, Saturday afternoon’s North 1, Group 4 title tilt was a contrast in styles.

Ramapo likes to play at a high rate of speed, and the Morris Knolls triple-option keeps defenses on their toes.

Well, Ramapo prevailed, 38-25 to win the North 1, Group 4 title for the second year in a row. Now 8-3, they’ll next visit North 2, Group 4 champion Phillipsburg Friday night at 7 pm for a chance to go to the state Group 4 title game.

Phillipsburg won the North 2, Group 4 title Friday night in thrilling fashion, 13-11 over Northern Highlands on a school-record long 46-yard field goal by Alexis Moriera.

*Ramapo beat Morris Knolls on the road Saturday, 35-38, to win its second straight North 1, Group 4 title. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)*

Much like Somerville did against Delsea’s Wing-T, the key was coming up with just enough defensive stops.

The biggest two of which came in the fourth quarter. First was a fumble recovery at their own 36 after the Golden Eagles botched a pitch play. Ramapo looked like it might go three and out, but extended the drive a bit, converting a fourth and short. They punted four plays later.

That pinned Knolls back to their 20 on a touchback with 3:05 left, down seven.

Bobby Bruckner peeled off a 59 yard run for Knolls a few plays later, setting up the Golden Eagles in the red zone. free a few runs, they were left with a fourth and two and had to go for it.

It was time for another Ramapo stop, and they got it. By inches. One kneel and the game was over.

The chain gang shows Morris Knolls is short on 4th down with under a minute to go. Ramapo took over and took a knee to run out the clock in a 35-28 win in the North 1 Group 4 four title game. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

This one was tight in the first half, with each team trading touchdowns. Casey Grusser hit Salvatore Livoti from 11 yards out for the Raiders, but the Golden Knights came back with a five-yard TD run with 2:40 to go in the quarter to deadlock the game at seven.

But the scoring blew up in the next 12 minutes. Liam Hayward ran in a two-yard score to put Ramapo up 14-7, but a 50-yard run by Chris Kaiser for Knolls tied it up with 4:28 to go before the half.

The Raiders took the lead right backol on a long drive capped by a five-yard TD run by Dylan Rosano, but Morris Knolls tied it again, this time on a 51-yard scamper by Kaiser.

Then, Rosano got his second score of the afternoon from a yard out with :35 to go before the half, making it 28-21 Ramapo at the break.

Things were not as busy in the second half, with a lot of back and forth. Morris Knolls opened the half with a seven-minute drive to tie things at 28 on a four-yard run by Kaiser.

Ramapo answered back with 1:17 left in the third on another one-yard run by Rosano, then held on by inches for the win.

Click below for postgame reaction from Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko with Ramapo head coach Nick Guttuso: