River Dell rallies in second half to end Ramapo 27-game winning streak
There were plenty on intriguing storylines heading into Friday night’s match-up between Ramapo and River Dell at Ramapo High School. The last team to beat the Green Raiders were the Golden Hawks in the 2017 North 1, Group 3 sectional title game at Met Life Stadium. Ramapo able to rebound the following year and knock off River Dell on their home turf for the North 1, Group 3 championship title.
Last year the Green Raiders narrowly defeating the Golden Hawks 21-19 at River Dell for their 18th consecutive victory in a row. Fast forward to this year Ramapo with an opportunity to extend their undefeated winning streak to 28 games.
Early on it appeared as Ramapo would be cruising to a victory against the Golden Hawks. Green Raiders sophomore Ben Robinson electrifying the home crowd with an opening kickoff 71-yard touchdown run 15 seconds into the game. Fresh off an impressive 162 yards on the ground and two touchdowns in the season opener against Pascack Valley last week, Charles DePrima found the end zone again. Bursting into the clear and untouched for a 54-yard score with less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Needing a spark especially after a drive ended up with turnover on downs deep inside Ramapo territory in the first quarter, the Golden Hawks found that in the second with senior quarterback Christian Hay launching a 75-yard bomb in stride to junior wide receiver Quinn Colin with seven minutes left. Just when it seemed the momentum had shifted to the River Dell side, DePrima orchestrated a lengthy 14-play, 90-yard drive that chewed up over five and half minutes of the clock culminating in DePrima throwing a 17-yard touchdown pass to senior Rich Sica with 1:22 to go.
In the first half, both teams’ had the ball for the same amount of time. That would change drastically in the third quarter with River Dell controlling the ball for 11 minutes. Despite two drives that ended up in turnover on downs, the Golden Hawks defense rose to the occasion forcing a quick three and out with four minutes to go in the quarter. Late in the period the River Dell defense came up with another big play by recovering a fumble at the Green Raiders 22-yard line.
Not even two minutes into the fourth quarter the Golden Hawks capitalized with Hay connecting with Quinn for a second time in the game on a 15-yard scoring pass. Miscues continued to pile up for Ramapo. On the following offensive series DePrima fumbled the ball with River Dell junior defensive lineman Aidan Cochran recovering the ball at the Green Raiders 48-yard line.
With less than nine minutes left on the clock, the Golden Hawks offense not only prospered on the ground but kept the ball for over seven minutes. Twice on fourth down plays, senior running back Mike Mellet displayed dogged determination by gaining first down yardage. Limited to six carries on nine yards in the first half, Mellet was a workhorse, rushing for 64 yards on 20 carries in the second half. Facing another a fourth down play at the Ramapo six-yard line with less than two minutes remaining, Hay lofted a pass to wide open Will Fletcher in the back of the end zone. Overall, River Dell successfully converted five out of seven fourth down conversions in the game.
Boldly going for the two-point conversion, the River Dell offense employed some magic, Hay pitched the ball to Mellet in turn flinging the ball just before getting tackled to Fletcher who corralled the ball as he was falling to the ground in the end zone.
One last opportunity for Ramapo to not only win but preserve the 27-game winning streak. Starting out at the 35-yard line, DePrima ripped off a 22-yard run. However, the Golden Hawks defense locked it down by sacking DePrima for a 11-yard loss and forcing him to run out of bounds on fourth down play thus setting off a jubilant celebration on the sidelines and in the stands on the River Dell side as the Golden Hawks prevailed 22-21. Christian Hay rushed 17 times for 110 yards while completing 8 of 21 passes for 155 yards. Colin Quinn reeled in four catches for 115 yards.
The Golden Hawks dominated time of possession especially in the second half. Holding the ball for 19 minutes compared to Ramapo’s five minutes and overall River Dell had the ball for 29 minutes in the game. Meanwhile the Golden Hawks defense limited the Green Raiders to eight total first downs and two in the second half. More impressive holding Sica to 43 yards rushing after he gained over 100 yards against Pascack Valley in the season opener while DePrima finished with 115 yards on the ground but only 50 in the second half and 17 yards passing as he finished 8 of 14 for 96 yards in the game.
Mike Mellet on the throwing the game-winning two-point conversion pass, “We ran that play all week, Coach(DJ Nimphius) told us at halftime how to do it and believe in whatever he says and just stuck to it.” “A lot of third and fourth down conversions, believe in our QB and offensive line.” (Will)Fletcher gets the TD, me and coach were looking at each other and we knew the play we were running. (Christian)Hay flips it to me and kid comes off the edge, I side step him and Fletcher gets lost inside and I flip it over there head.”
“They have a great QB and team over there and had to keep them off the field.” “This means a lot to me, last year we lost this close and got down to the goal line and blew the protection.” This year we wanted all the guys together and this game and had it circled. We just wanted to get back to River Dell football, we know how we can play and showed today.”
Will Fletcher on catching the game-winning two-point conversion pass and victory, “We wrote that up all week, have been practicing all week and knew it was going to happen. “We knew we were going to need it against a team like this.” It has been something we have been doing forever and knew it was going to work. It’s the best feeling, doing it with this team and brotherhood.”
“We talked at halftime we were not playing our best game in the first half.” “Our offensive line just pushed, we played our game, never gave up and thought we were going to lose. One of the best defensive games we have played. (Christian) Hay is my best friend and brother, a beast and monster who is strong and tough. He doesn’t get hurt, lowers his shoulder and does everything he needs to do and big reason why we got this win.”
“Coach Nimphius is the best coach out there and he is the reason why we win all these games.” “We don’t have the biggest group, size or talent but he keeps us together and as one and puts us in the position to win games.”
Head Coach DJ Nimphius on the win, “This is how we are going to have to play.” “We have a lot of gritty kids, just lucky to play a football game.” We’re playing on Friday night, nobody really here but you wouldn’t know it. It was a wonderful game and proud of our kids.”
“They have a wonderful program, a hall of fame coach and have all the respect in the world for them.” “In the last couple of years we lost to them in 2018, we were up 15 with six minutes left and AJ (Wingfield) just went magic, 2017 23-20 and last year it was 21-19 and we went for two and blew an assignment.” I thought we had a good two-point play, we had confident players and no hesitation.”