Ramapo remains unbeaten
The Game At A Glance: Ramapo exploded for 28 third quarter points, after leading 10-7 at halftime, to beat Wayne Valley, 45-13 in a battle of undefeated teams.
First Half Highlights: The first quarter began with the teams exchanging punts on their first two drives. On Wayne Valley's third drive, Luke Primerano found Anthony Biondi for 44 yards to the Ramapo 35. After another first down, the Indians turned it over on downs, with Ramapo sacks on third and fourth downs by Andy Gilard and Christian Albanese, respectively. Ramapo took over on its 27, striking quickly. Anthony LoVecchio hit Conor Krup for 19 yards and LoVecchio kept the ball down the right sideline on the following play for 28 yards down to the 26. Three plays later, LoVecchio rolled left and patiently lofted a pass to an open Neil O'Connor, who caught the ball and stepped into the end zone for a 15 yard score.
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Early in the second quarter, Wayne Valley had good field position when Elvis Romero hit LoVecchio, jarring the ball loose, and Andrew Monteyne recovered on the 27. Three players, Primerano kept it for an eight yard score and it was tied, 7-7, two minutes into the quarter. Ramapo had a drive later in the quarter and went in front when David Bonagura booted a 36 yard field goal to make it, 10-7, with five minutes left. A key play on the drive was when LoVecchio found Pat O'Hagan for 37 yards to the 6.
Second Half Highlights: Ramapo got things rolling on the half's opening play when LoVecchio found Logan Schulte for a 72 yard score. Ramapo moved the ball on its next drive, but a 37 yard field goal attempt was no good. Wayne Valley punted on the ensuing drive and Krup returned it 21 yards to the Valley 30. LoVecchio found Schulte for 25 yards to the 10 and he followed it up by scoring from two yards out to make it 24-7. After another Wayne Valley punt, Ramapo needed one play when Skyler Amador crashed through the line and raced 48 yards for the score. The Raiders added another score when Krup intercepted and went 11 yards for the score.
Ramapo scored its last touchdown when backup quarterback Nick Larson scored on a sneak from the one. The drive had two big plays when Larson found Kareem Elzarka for 34 yards on the previous play and Connor Speziale had a 35 yard run. Wayne Valley concluded the game when Billy Crank connected with Biondi for a 27 yard score on the game's final play.
Play Of The Game: The 72 yard score from LoVecchio to Schulte on the second half's first play opened the game up for Ramapo.
Game Balls: LoVecchio was 12-22-231 and two touchdowns. The Ramapo front four of ends Christian Albanese and Jimmy Hogan, plus tackles Matt and Stephen Rossi put constant pressure on the passer. Schulte and O'Hagan were favorite targets of LoVecchio; Schulte had three receptions for 106 yards and one touchdown, while O'Hagan had five receptions for 83 yards. Conor Krup made plays on offense, defense, and special teams.
In a losing cause, the Wayne Valley defense registered seven sacks on the night.
Audibles:
Ramapo head coach Drew Gibbs - "When we play well, we're a very good football team. Wayne Valley is a good team, but we have so many weapons, that it's difficult to cover all our guys. We were excited this week because we were looking for that test game. When the other team is 4-0, we're jacked up to play those guys. Anthony LoVecchio has stepped up and made a lot of big plays for us. He's still learning the offense, but he's getting better and better. He has nice poise when the play breaks down. Our down four linemen are playing very good football right now. This down four is as good as we've had at Ramapo and that's a big statement. The two Rossi brothers inside, who are very thick, very physical, and very strong. Then, we have the two defensive ends, Christian Albanese and Jimmy Hogan; outstanding athletes, both of them, very quick. Hogan (a junior) has been offered by Rutgers already and Albanese hasn't played since his freshman year, missing his sophomore and junior years with injuries. We didn't know what we were going to get out of him. We knew he was a great talent, one of the best eighth graders to come into our program and he has been murder on the quarterbacks, so far. Azuolas Gedutis also got in there and batted down a pass and almost picked it off. He's six-foot-four and new to the game, but playing very well for us."
Ramapo quarterback Anthony LoVecchio - "We were both 4-0. They're a tough team to play and we just had to keep it going. We were pumped up in the locker room at half time and we knew we had to make plays. The coaches prepared us tremendously. We established ourselves tonight. When last year ended, we got to work, and we were ready to go."
Ramapo wide receiver Logan Schulte - "I knew we had a good strategy coming out of the half because they were biting on me man on man. We came out with the one play to start off, Anthony hit me with the pass, and I kept running. We practiced well, as usual. We knew they were going to be a good team and we brought our A game."