Mike Petses of New Providence scores in the fourth quarter of a 49-24 playoff win over Boonton on November 2, 2024. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
No one led by more than a touchdown, and they needed more than 48 minutes to decide the game.
That’s playoff football, folks.
In Hasbrouck Heights Friday night, third-seed New Providence got three touchdowns from Jack Fitzgerald – including what turned out to be the game winner in overtime – to come out with a 28-21 win over the second-seeded Aviators, clinching a berth in next week’s North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 final.
Add in the fact that top-seed Mountain Lakes was upset at home by fourth-seed Cedar Grove, 22-15, in the other semifinal, and it all adds up to the Pioneers hosting that title game, next Friday night at 6:30.
After a scoreless first quarter, New Providence took a 14-0 lead on consecutive touchdowns, a 45-yard run by Kevin Reilly, and a 13-yard run by Fitzgerald, a wide receiver converted to running back when A.J. Whitehead suffered a season-ending leg injury a few weeks ago.
But Heights got the next three scores. Brady Shine caught a 16-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-7 at the break, then Michael Napolitano scored on a ten-yard run in the third to tie it at 14-all, and Shine caught another touchdown pass in the fourth – from Nico Nipitella for 63-yards, to take a 21-14 lead.
And that’s where Fitzgerald took over. He scored from 33-yards out to tie the game at 21 in the fourth.
Then, getting the ball first in overtime, Fitzgerald scored from 25 yards out on the very first play to give the Pioneers a 28-21 lead. On the Aviators’ turn, they got a first down, then took a loss of a yard before throwing three straight incomplete passes to end the game.
So now, it’s New Providence – the last unbeaten team in the Big Central at 10-0 after Manville’s loss at Burlington City Friday night – going up against Cedar Grove (8-3) for the North 1, Group 1 title, a rematch of last year’s final, which the Panthers won 35-14 en route to the state Group 1 final, which they lost to Glassboro.
But that one was on the road. This time, the Pioneers will be at home, looking for a better outcome – and their seventh overall sectional title.
Click below to hear head coach Chet Parlavecchio, Jr., talk about the win with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:
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