HS Football: Defensive Touchdown Thwarts Rally, Hands New Milford 26-14 Win over Hasbrouck Heights

NEW MILFORD, NJ – A late defensive touchdown by New Milford stopped a potential comeback for Hasbrouck Heights and gave the Knights a 26-14 victory in the season opener for both teams in New Milford on Friday Night in NJIC Meadowlands Division football action.

With the Aviators trailing 20-14 late with a little over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter Hasbrouck Heights running back Michael Napolitano was stripped of the ball on a rushing play up the middle at the New Milford 10 yard line. Kyle Tennant ran 90 yards with the ball for a touchdown to put the Knights up 26-10.

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Hasbrouck Heights was rallying after New Milford went ahead on a 47-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jerzey Ryan to receiver Luis Placido Fana with five minutes remaining in the game.

Quarterback Danny Amendola led the comeback, rushing for five yards up the middle, after New Milford kicked the ensuing kickoff out of bounds, giving the Aviators the ball at the ball at the 40-yard line. He then hit Napolitano with a 20-yard completion to move the ball into New Milford territory at the Knights 40-yard line.

After Napolitano scampered for an eight-yard gain, on second and two, Amendola rolled off the left side for a 14-yard quarterback keeper and bringing the ball to Knights 18 team. After an eight-yard carry by Napolitano on first down, the Aviators ran the ball up the middle on second down, when then ball was stripped and returned for a touchdown.

Hasbrouck Heights got on the board in the first quarter when Napolitano went 82 yards for a touchdown after New Milford had pinned the Aviators deep in their on territory, for a 6-0 lead. Brady Shine’s kick was wide right.

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New Milford scored on the last play of the first half to take a 7-0 lead, as Fano scored on a jet sweep around the left end for a three-yard touchdown run as time was running out. Jonathan Larivee’s kick gave the Knights a 7-6 lead.

The Knights extended the lead to 14-6 on the first possession of the third quarter, as Ryan and Fana hooked up for a 70 yard pass play down the left side of the defense. ‘

Hasbrouck Heights tied the game at 14-all one the first play of the second half as Napolitano capped 11-play drive with a 13 yard run off the right side for a touchdown. The Aviators went for two, and Amendola threw back across the formation to Shine in the end zone for the two-point play.

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