NVOT faced West Essex High School at Old Tappan in the State Sectional Final Round on Friday, November 15. A dominant offense resulted in a Knight’s victory, and we have a recap of all the action. 

First Quarter: West Essex will start with the ball from their own 31. 3rd & 1 for West Essex at OT’s 48, and they pick up the first down. On 1st & 10 from the Knight’s 35, Max Garcia (#28) with a run up the right side for a touchdown, making it 7-0 West Essex. Old Tappan will take over from their own 30. On 1st & 10 from their own 42, Miceli throws a deep ball to get the Knights down to Essex’s 2-yard line. On 3rd & goal for the Knights, Alex Orecchio (#12) takes it up the left side to make it a 7-7 ball game. A short kickoff by Orecchio results in a drop for Essex, and gives OT the ball right back, as they are now set up at Essex’s 38 yard line. On the first play of the drive, Nick Rossi (#22) explodes and runs it in for the touchdown making it 14-7 Knights. 3rd & 5 now for West Essex from their 25, they complete the pass and pick up the first. After an incomplete pass, Essex is forced to punt as the Knights will take over from their own 21. On 2nd & 12, Zach Miceli (#8) throws a deep ball to Orecchio (#12), who catches it, and he goes all the way for an 80-yard touchdown to make it 21-7.  The first quarter comes to an end with the Knights up 21-7.

Second Quarter: On 3rd & 10, the Knight’s pressure gets to the quarterback as they bring him down for a sack. Orecchio with a good return on the punt to set up 1st & 10, on Essex’s 40-yard line. 3rd & 9 now for the Knights at Essex’s 15, and the pass is incomplete. Orecchio (#12) will make the kick from 30 yards out, making the score 24-7 Knights. 3rd & 5 now for West Essex with 4 minutes left in the first half. They pick up the first down. On 1st down, Essex tries to go deep, but the pass is intercepted by Leo Etter (#18) at the 13-yard line. On 2nd & 15, Nick Rossi goes up the middle for a big gain, to the ball to their 45-yard line. On 3rd & 10, the pass is incomplete, bringing up 4th & 10 for the Knights. The punt from OT is muffed and recovered by OT to set them up at Essex’s 23. A good run by Miceli sets up a 1st & goal at the 5. On 1st & goal, Alex Orecchio (#12), takes it up the middle for his third touchdown of the day, making it 31-7. West Essex will have the ball at their own 28-yard line, with 40 seconds left in the first half. The first half will end with NVOT leading 31-7.

Third Quarter: Old Tappan will start with the ball from their own 30-yard line. 3rd & 11 now for the Knights on their 40. After an incompletion, OT will punt and will be downed at Essex’s 33. 4th & 3 now for West Essex on their 40-yard line, and they will go for it but are unsuccessful after a low throw falls incomplete. 3rd & 4 now for OT on Essex’s 21. 4th & 4 for the Knights, and they will go for it, and get the first down on a gain of 6. On 1st & goal, Zach Miceli (#8) will keep it up the middle for a gain of 6 to make 38-7 Knights. After a series of plays, Essex will be forced to punt, and OT takes over from their own 26. The third quarter comes to an end with NVOT up 38-7.

Fourth Quarter: Old Tappan now working the clock, with 10 minutes left, and it is 3rd & 8. After an 8-yard gain to pick up the first down, there is a flag on the play against West Essex which will bring the ball to Essex’s 21-yard line. 4th & 13 now for the Knights on Essex’s 16-yard line. Old Tappan will attempt a kick with Alex Orecchio (#12) and it is good from 33 yards out, to make it 41-7. 1st & 10, a huge run by West Essex, sets them up at the Knight’s 25. On 1st & 10, Anthony Drago (#7) takes it up the left side and runs it in, to make it 41-13. After a slow drive for the Knights, it will be 4th & 10 from their own 30, and they will punt and it will be downed at the 42. After a fumble recovery by the Knights, Old Tappan is able to run out the rest of the clock.

Knights Win 41-13

Game Summary: The first quarter seemed as though it would be a shootout. However, that was not the case as the Knights’ dominant offense and stifling defense gave them a 31-7 lead at halftime. Even after halftime, they never took their foot off the gas as they would score another 10 points in the second half, while only allowing 6 points, and would win the game 41-13. NVOT will look to avenge their only loss of the season when they play Pascack Valley today in the Group 3 semifinal round.