TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON − Westwood junior running back Steve Klein ran for 161 yards and two touchdowns as the Cardinals clinched the Super Football Conference American Red Division title with a 30-0 triumph Friday night in front of a crowd 1,538.
It was the first time Ramsey has been shut out since its season opener in 2019.
The game was marred by multiple personal foul penalties and an incident on the Ramsey bench just before halftime. Unofficially, Westwood (6-1) was whistled for 11 penalties.
“We had a lot of penalties tonight. We are going to address that tomorrow,” Cardinals coach Bobby Guy said. “As far as how we played, we executed at times, but sloppy penalties. We can’t win big games like that. Nobody is going to let us off the hook if we continue to play like that.”
What it means
Westwood earned the division title for a third straight year and again looks like a contender in Group 2. Klein only had nine carries, but broke open the game with touchdown runs of 35 and 67 yards.
Guy spread the credit around to his offensive line and other running backs, but conceded that Klein was an ‘ace in the hole.’
Ramsey fell to 5-2, but is still in good shape for a playoff bid.
“We just have to get back to work like anything else, we have to get better,” Ramsey coach Adam Baeira said. “It starts with me. We have Dumont on Senior Night [next week] and we want to get that game for the seniors.”
A bitter end
Ramsey had not one, not two, but three untimed downs at the end of the first half after an unfortunate series of events.
With the ball at the Westwood 40, Ramsey quarterback Justus Favata launched a deep pass into the end zone while rolling to his left. The pass fell incomplete, but Favata was hit late out of bounds and a brief skirmish ensured with players from both sides jawing at one another.
Westwood was hit with two personal foul penalties on the play and the ball was placed at the Cardinals' 12-yard line. Favata threw a pass in the end zone and Ramsey was whistled for pass interference, giving Ramsey another shot with no time on the clock. The Westwood defense held on the third play.
Both coaches said they were disappointed in what happened.
“Very, very,” Guy said. “We addressed it at halftime. We just have to clean up our act a lot. When stuff like that happens, everyone just has to take a deep breath. I was glad it was the end of the half so we could calm our guys down. We have to clean it up.”
“It happens,” Baeira said. “They are 16-, 17-, 18-year old kids. We told them to stay cool. I think both sides and both coaching staffs are similar like that. I’m glad we handled it. I am glad they handled it. Nothing but respect for those guys.”
Game balls
Westwood’s defense set the tone on Ramsey’s second possession by trapping Favata in the end zone for a safety. Luke Biello was the first one to wrap up Favata. The Cardinals finished with four sacks.
Cardinals quarterback Sean Morrison completed 8 of 13 passes with a pair of touchdowns to Luke Bussanich.
During the pregame, Westwood held a moment of silence for former assistant coach John Zisa, who died in May. Zisa worked at Paramus Catholic, Elmwood Park, Wayne Valley and Westwood, among other North Jersey schools.
Up next
Westwood faces River Dell in the “Bird Bowl” at home on Friday night.
Ramsey hosts Dumont on Friday.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Westwood football clinches division title with heated win over Ramsey
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