Tag: Ramapo

by Mike Pavlichko

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:

by Mike Pavlichko

After five straight trips to sectional semis, Ridge looks to take next step Friday, and exorcise some demons, against Ramapo

The Ridge and Ramapo football teams have some recent history, but the Red Devils will look to alter its course Friday night.

That’s when second-seed Ridge (8-1) will entertain third-seed Ramapo (6-3) in the North 1, Group 4 semifinals, with a trip to the sectional title game on the line. It’s a level Ridge hasn’t reached since winning a title in 2013, but there’s more to the story.

The Red Devils are in the sectional semis for the sixth playoff season in a row. They got that far in 2018 and 2019 under Bill Tracy – now the head coach at St. Joseph-Metuchen – and after the no-playoffs COVID year, have been there the last three years. In 2023, they fell to Northern Highlands by five, and the two previous years lost both times to Ramapo.

But those games – a 34-27 defeat in 2022, and a 41-31 loss in 2021 – were on the road. This time, the Red Devils get them at home. And it still won’t be easy.

The Raiders started the year 0-3. They opened with a loss at Somers (NY) by five, then lost to Ridgewood by 12 and Old Tappan by six; both of those teams are No. 1 seeds in their respective sections – and still alive – this postseason.

Ramapo has its own storied playoff history, too. They have 13 state sectional titles.

They’re the defending North 1, Group 4 champs, topping Northern Highlands – the team that knocked Ridge out – in last year’s title game, 14-10, before falling in the Group 4 title game to Mainland, which is down to Group 3 this year.

They also made the finals in 2022 and 2021, losing to Northern Highlands both times. And they’ve been in the semis the last 12 playoff years, dating back to 2012, winning titles in 2015, 2018 and 2019.

Click below to hear Ridge coach Andy West talk about the Red Devils, and Friday’s playoff game against Ramapo:

by Mike Pavlichko

INSTANT REPLAY – NJSIAA Tournament Group 3 Semifinal (Boys): Ramapo 49, Colonia 31

Colonia got eight points each from seniors Jaeden Jones and Matthew McSorley as the Patriots fell 49-31 to Ramapo in the Group 3 semifinals of the NJSIAA state tournament for a third straight year.

Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko call all the play-by-play live from Bloomfield High School on March 6, 2024, as heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

by Mike Pavlichko

Colonia can’t find its shot, falls to Ramapo for a third straight year in Group 3 semifinals

When the Colonia boys’ basketball team fell behind 8-2 early, but bounced back with a 5-0 run to close the first quarter, it looked like even though it might be a low-scoring game, it would be a tight one all the way with Ramapo for a third straight year in the Group 3 semifinals.

But the Patriots never could find that scoring touch, while Ramapo did. And the Raiders beat them again en route to the state Group 3 championship game, this time 49-31 in Bloomfield in a game heard live on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

They’ll face the winner of the South/Central semifinal between Mainland and Freehold Boro at 6:30pm Sunday at RWJBarnabas Arena in Toms River, playing for the statewide Group 3 title.

Colonia – which finishes the season 22-9, having won the GMC Tournament for the first time since 2015 and the North 2, Group 3 title for a third straight year – had no one finish in double figures in the game, the easiest way to see they had trouble scoring the ball. But the lack of scoring – and offensive rebounding – also kept them from putting any back court pressure on Ramapo, which allowed the Raiders to set up their half-court offense.

After an 8-7 first quarter, Ramapo (24-8) closed the half on a 12-4 run to lead 20-11 at halftime. That advantage got as big as 19 at one point in the second half.

Jaeden Jones and Matt McSorley finished with eight each for Colonia, while Aiden Derkack finished with six. He had his wrist taped in the third quarter, and that may have affected his shot as well.

Seniors Chris Cervino, Wyatt Eglinton-Manner and Peyton Seals each finished with 12 for Ramapo.

Click below for postgame reaction from Colonia head coach Jose Rodriguez, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

by Mike Pavlichko

Will the third time be the charm? Colonia to meet Ramapo tonight in Group 3 semis for a third straight year

For a third straight year, the road to New Jersey’s Group 3 boys’ basketball final for Colonia will go through Ramapo. But will this be the year they finally get there?

The Patriots have won three straight North 2, Group 3 titles. The Raiders have won five. And in three of those years – including the last two – Colonia has fallen to Ramapo in the state Group 3 semifinals.

Maybe it’s the venue. The last two years, they’ve played each other in Phillipsburg, a long trek for both schools.

Wednesday afternoon, they’ll meet up in Bloomfield at 4:30, with another trip to the state final on the line. You can hear that game right here on Central Jersey Sports Radio, beginning with the pregame show at 4:15 as Mike Pavlichko calls all the action. Click here to listen.

The Patriots are led by sophomore Aiden Derkack and senior Jaeden Jones. Derkack – the GMC Tournament MVP – is averaging 21.3 points per game in four state tournament contests, and had a double-double in the state tourney opener against Fort Lee, with 22 points and 16 rebounds. Jones is averaging almost 20 a game in the state tourney, five above his season average, lighting it up in the sectionals.

Ramapo has three four-year varsity players, including star guard Peyton Seals, who plays AAU ball with Derkack and is headed to Princeton. He’s averaging 15 points a game in the states, and overall, while Chris Cervino can bury the deep ball, and is averaging almost 17 points a game in the state tournament, four above his season average. He has a team-leading 84 treys.

Click below to hear from both coaches!

Colonia coach Jose Rodriguez after the Patriots’ North 2, Group 3 title game win over Millburn
Ramapo head coach Nick Vier
by Mike Pavlichko

Ramapo too much for Colonia down the stretch, as Patriots’ season ends in the Group 3 semis – again

Colonia has now won back-to-back sectional titles in North 2 Group 3, and has taken the title in three of the last four playoff years.

But they just can’t seem to get over that hump, that hump called Ramapo.

For the second year in a row, the Patriots lot to the North 1, Group 3 champions in the Group 3 semifinals out at Phillipsburg High School, last year by ten, this year by four.

Maybe the third time will be the charm.

But that was little consolation on Wednesday night out on the State Line, where Colonia – unlike last year – led going into the fourth quarter, albeit by one, thanks to a Jaeden Jones bucket.

But Ramapo got out to a slim lead in the fourth quarter, by two, three, four; never quite enough to seal the deal until the end, but enough to keep the Patriots in catch-up mode.

Colonia ends its season 25-5, while Ramapo goes on to the Group 3 finals at Rutgers University’s Jersey Mike’s Arena Saturday at a time to be determined against Central Group 3 champ Nottingham, which beat South 3 winner Moorestown 56-49 down at Brick Memorial High School Wednesday night.

by Mike Pavlichko

Deady has helped Ridge dominate since 1-2 start, as Red Devils seek first title game berth since 2013

The last time the Ridge football team made a championship game, they were perfect, and almost perfect.

With Bill Tracy at the helm, the Red Devils went 12-0 in winning the North 2, Group 5 title before the snow made its way to what was then High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway.

In the game, they were almost perfect, scoring on all but one possession, when a field goal try doinked off one of the uprights, en route to a 48-13 win over Union.

That was nine years ago, well before any current players on the Ridge football team were teenagers. Now, with Andy West at the helm, Ridge has their shot in a season that hasn’t exactly happened quietly, but got off to an inauspicious start.

They started 1-2, although those two losses were to Phillipsburg and Hillsborough, and that was when the Raiders were looking like a title contender themselves, with a very good defense, and an offense that was still finding its way before losing its top two quarterbacks.

Since then, Ridge has been a juggernaut: they’re 6-0 since the ‘Boro loss, have tossed three shutouts, and haven’t had a team score more than a touchdown in any of their wins.

Friday, the third-seeded Red Devils visit second seed Ramapo, with both teams checking in at 7-2.

Ridge has a ground game led by thousand-yard rusher Will Deady, who’s just a junior, but has racked up 1,071 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. He’s the first to eclipse the thousand-yard mark in Basking Ridge since R.J. Milligan has 1,280 yards in 2018. And if the Red Devils make the finals, he could pass that mark.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Ridge junior runningback Will Deady about the Red Devils’ success in 2022, and their playoff matchup at Ramapo Friday night:

by Mike Pavlichko

Colonia falls short in Group 3 semifinals, 49-39 to Ramapo

Turns out, there was no lucky seven for the Colonia Ptriots.

Six times before, they had won a sectional title, and all six times they had been eliminated in the next game, in the Group Semifinals.

They could not change their luck in 2022.

A young Ramapo team – the North 1 champion – with only one senior and a slew of sophomores came out and attacked Colonia early, going right to the basket and getting shots to go down.

Colonia, on the other hand, couldn’t find the bottom of the net from in close, wasn’t drawing fouls, and didn’t get good looks on the perimeter for Saivon Pressley, who finished with 19, including a trey.

In the end, though, Colonia had a great season, adding to the trophy case with the North 2, Group 3 title, the seventh in program history.

Click below for postgame reaction with Colonia head coach Jose Rodriguez:

by Mike Pavlichko

Colonia is much more than Pressley, as it seeks first-ever trip to a group final tonight against Ramapo

Colonia has won seven state championships, but never gotten to a group final.

The 2021-22 version wants to change that.

And it’s very well within their reach, as the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 champion Patriots (25-4) play North 1 champion Ramapo (22-6) tonight in the Group 3 semifinals at Phillipsburg High School.

Central Jersey Sports Radio will broadcast all the action, with Mike Pavlichko on the air at 6:40 for the pregamw show. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 pm. Click here to listen to all the live play-by-play, for free, with no paywall.

The winner goes on to face either Manasquan (the Central 3 champ) or Woodrow Wilson (the South 3 champ) in the Group 3 finals. All the public finals are held at Jersey Mike’s Arena (formerly “The RAC”) at Rutgers University this Sunday. Game times are noon, 2, 4, and 6 pm, but times won’t be announced until all the matchups are done being determined tonight.

Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko talk about the Patriots’ season and preview the Ramapo matchup with Colonia head coach Jose Rodriguez:

by Mike Pavlichko

Colonia’s Group 3 semi opponent Ramapo has exceeded expectations

With ten sophomores in the program, Ramapo isn’t very senior-laden, and one might think easy pickin’s in a state tournament environment, where it’s win-or-go-home

But that hasn’t been the case. Sure, a fluke team might win a game or two in the sectionals, but you don’t get to this point in the season on a fluke. You get to this point in the season by being good.

And that’s how Ramapo won the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 championship, and now finds themselves in the Group 3 semifinals Thursday night against North 2, Group 3 champions Colonia.

The two will face off at 7 pm at Phillipsburg High School, with the winner moving on to Sunday’s NJISAA Public Group Finals at Jersey Mike’s Arena on the campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway. You can hear tonight’s game on Central Jersey Sports Radio with Mike Pavlichko calling all the action, starting with the pregame show at 6:45. Click here to listen live for free, with no paywall.

Ramapo was the top seed in North 1, Group 3, and won fourth straight at home to get to the group semi stage. They got here with a 72-54 win over 16th-seed Northern Highlands, a 62-44 win over 8-seed Morris Hills in the quarterfinals, a 63-36 win over 13-seed Paramus in the sectional semifinals, and a 58-47 win over 2-seed Tenafly in the North 1, Group 3 title game.

Only five players got in the scoring column in that game, led by 20 points from Nate Burleson – yes, the son of the former NFL player – while Peyton Seals, the team’s leading scorer this season, chipped in 16.

Learn more about Colonia’s Group 3 semifinal opponent Ramapo by clicking below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Raiders’ first-year head coach Nick Vier: