12/6/08: Section I, Group III Finals: Wayne Hills 35, Lakeland 6, By Skiffo Drake: Wayne Hills (12-0) easily defeated Lakeland (11-1) in this highly anticipated "Battle of the Unbeatens." It was Wayne's 52nd straight win. The streak dates back to 2004. The team has now won six of the last seven sectional titles (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008). It was the team's 13th trip to the final game (1991, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008).
Hills marched down the field and scored on its first possession. The score came when Mike Quinn fired an 11 yard scoring strike to Justin Hourihan. Bryan Ogden came up with a 23 yard reception from Quinn on the drive. Wayne increased the lead when Quinn launched a 36 yard touchdown to Bryan Ogden.
Lakeland appeared poised to make it a game. They made it 14-6 on their first possession of the second half. An impressive drive was capped off when Jon Allard caught a 42 yard touchdown pass from Dan Deighan. Tyler Engels had a 66 yard catch and carry from Deighan on the drive. Some of it was called back, thanks to an illegal block. Lakeland still managed to score.
From that point on, it was all Hills. Ronnie Driesse scored on touchdown runs of 3 and 10 and on an interception return of 53 yards. Driesse ran for 213 yards. Tim Divers connected on all five extra point attempts. Quinn had 71 yards passing.
``To win the championship and keep the winning streak going is the best feeling in the world,'' Driesse, who went over the 1,000-yard mark this season and now has 1,030 yards, said. ``We wanted to mix it up on offense. `We passed and then we ran inside and outside. The line's blocking was amazing. It did more than its job. It led us to victory.''
Leading the offensive line were Ryan Salerno, Paul Drake, Chris Avedissian and Nick Tumminello.
"The key was answering Lakeland's scoring drive with a scoring drive of our own," Driesse said. "I felt like they gave up after that."
Brian Dowling had a 20 yard reception from Quinn on that drive.
Hills completely stymied Lakeland's heralded running attack. Deighan, Lakeland's leading rusher, picked up a paltry 24 yards. He came in with 1,274 yards running this season. Lakeland only rushed for 13 total yards, since they were thrown for numerous losses.
``We wanted to put some pressure on Deighan but not blitz and kind of stay back,'' said linebacker Ryan Daddurno, who paced Wayne Hills with 10 tackles. ``We didn't want to open up any lanes for him to run. We wanted him to put it in the air.''
Deighan did throw for 207 yards. Allard accounted for 123 for those aerial yards. Tyler Engels had 65 yards receiving.
"We had some opportunities, but couldn't convert," said Lakeland coach Tom McCormack. "That was because Wayne Hills took the opportunities away from us. We got them to bend a bit, but they didn't break. That's why they're such a great team."
"You have to play sound football if you want to beat a team like that," said Allard. "We made too many mistakes."
Added Deighan, "11-1 is not bad. It just stinks that the one loss came now."
11/21/08: Section I, Group III Semifinals: Wayne Hills 17, Pascack Valley 10, By Skiffo Drake: With the score tied 0-0, PV's Kevin Rems pulled in a pass from Mike Loganchuk and sped goal ward. Wayne linebacker Mike Waller caught up with Rems and tackled him just inches short of the goal line. Even though it was early, it may have been a game saving tackle. On the very next play, Corey Keiser coughed up the the football. Wayne's Nick Tumminello picked up the ball and subsequently fumbled. Fortunately for Hills, teammate Albert Falzarano recovered the ball. Three plays later Tom DiBianca raced for an 81 yard touchdown. Waller's tackle, in essence, was a 14-point swing. It turned out to be significant for another reason. Rems, PV's leading rusher, injured his shoulder on the play and would not return.
PV continued to play valiantly without Rems. Kyle Hartwick nailed a 25 yard field goal to pull within 7-3 at the half. PV took the lead late in the third period. Pascack Valley took a 10-7 lead in the third quarter on Loganchuk's 46-yard pass to Paul Koehler and Kyle Hartwick's extra point kick.
DiBianca's 39-yard run in the fourth quarter enabled Wayne Hills to open a 14-10 lead. Christian Aveedissian's sack forced a fumble that was recovered by Nick Tumminello to give Wayne Hills possession at the Pascack Valley 40 with 6:45 to play. The turnover led to Tim Divers' 37-yard field goal. The boot hit the crossbar and bounced over.
DiBianca carried the ball only four times, but still managed 116 yards. Hills will meet up with undefeated Lakeland in the final in two weeks. The game will most likely be played at the Meadowlands. The two Passaic County schools haven't played each other in football since the early 1970s. Hills will be going for its fifth straight Section I, Group III title and its sixth such title in the last seven years. It will be the teams 13th trip to the final game (1991, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008).
11/14/08: Section I, Group III Quarterfinals, Wayne Hills 44, West Milford 8, By Skiffo Drake: Top seeded Wayne Hills trounced West Milford (No. 8) for its 50th win in a row. The winning streak is the third longest in state history, behind only record-holder Paulsboro (63, ending in 1998) and Randolph (54, ending in 1991).
Justin Hourihan started the onslaught off with a 26 yard interception return. Ronnie Driesse added touchdown rushes of 1 and 8 yards. Tom Bianca and Brian Dowling ran for touchdowns of 30 and 5 yards respectively. Bryan Ogden scored on a 20 yard touchdown pass from Mike Quinn. West Milford scored when Rich Comerford grabbed an 11 yard TD throw from Brian Mizerek. The game also featured two safeties. West Milford scored when Anthony DelGuadio tackled Quinn for a safety. Hills tacked on two when West Milford snapped the ball out of the end zone on a punt attempt.
Quinn finished with 15 completions for 178 yards. Ryan Daddurno led the defensive effort with 16 tackles. Paul Drake had 2.5 sacks.
Hills will take on Pascack Valley in the semifinals. Hills beat PV during the season, 35-0. PV (No. 4) downed Paramus (No. 5) in the quarterfinals. The other semifinals will pit Lakeland (No. 3) against Sparta (No. 7). Lakeland beat Ramapo (No. 6). Sparta (No. 7) beat Wayne Valley (No. 2).
11/7/08: Wayne Hills 49, Indian Hills 14: Senior tailback Ronnie Driesse carried 14 times for 168 yards and four touchdowns. Quarterback Mike Quinn connected on eight of 11 passes for 183 yards and a score.
On defense for Wayne Hills, tackle Nick Tumminello had seven tackles, including a sack. Linebacker Ryan Daddurno added six tackles.
Driesse scored the first three TDs for Wayne Hills on runs of 7, 2 and 1 yards. Indian Hills followed with a score when Jason Ogull grabbed a 27-yard pass from Mike Marscovetra. Daddurno scored on a 4-yard rush. Justin Hourihan caught a 25-yard pass from Quinn. Brian Dowling ran in from 1 yard as the Passaic County squad enjoyed a 42-7 lead at the half. Wayne Hills won its state-leading 49th game in a row.
11/1/08: Wayne Hills 48, Fair Lawn 14: Wayne Hills spotted Fair Lawn a 7-0 lead, but from that point on it was all Hills (8-0). Ron Driesse carried 18 times for 126 yards and three touchdowns. Junior quarterback Mike Quinn completed 14 of 18 passes for 174 yards and two scores. It was Wayne Hills' state-leading 48th consecutive triumph, the third-longest streak in state history.
Justin Hourihan, a senior receiver and corner, had seven receptions for 106 yards and a TD and also returned an interception 75 yards for a score. On defense, linebacker Ryan Daddurno collected 10 tackles. On offense, he rushed for a ten yard score. Junior tackle Ryan Salerno recorded nine tackles, three for losses. Driesse had runs of 18 and 9 yards in the first period. In the second quarter, Hourihan caught a 21-yard TD pass from Quinn. Joe Russo followed with a 2-yard TD catch from Quinn.
10/24/08: Wayne Hills 50, Demarest 0: Ron Driesse galloped for touchdowns of 1, 19 and 55 yards as Hills demolished Demarest. Tom DiBianca ran for scores of 55 and 59 yards. Mike Quinn fired 19 yard touchdowns to Justin Hourihan and Joe Russo. Hourihan caught a two point conversion from Quinn and threw a two point conversion to Jim DiDilectis.
DiBianca paced the offense with 118 rushing yards. Quinn passed for 126 yards. Hourihan had 67 yards receiving. Ryan Daddurno and Matt DeBlock combined for 15 tackles.
10/18/08: Wayne Hills 35, Pascack Valley 0: Hills turned its supposed showdown with previously undefeated Pascack Valley into a laugher. Bryan Ogden had a touchdown run from scrimmage, a scoring catch, returned a kickoff to a touchdown and intercepted a pass. After a scoreless first half, Ogden returned the second-half kickoff 85 yards to a touchdown. Quarterback Mike Quinn rushed in from the 1 for another score. Tim Divers made both extra points from placement and Wayne Hills moved to a 14-0 lead in the third period.
Quinn had a 7-yard scoring run and threw a 12-yard pass to Ogden when Wayne Hills increased its lead to 28-0 midway through the fourth period. Ogden had the final TD, an end around from 62 yards. Quinn, a junior, completed six of 10 passes for 117 yards. Ron Driesse rushed 23 times for 114 yards. On defense, tackles Nick Tumminello and Ryan Salerno combined for 21 tackles, including five sacks. Linebacker Ryan Daddurno added 11 tackles.
10/10/08: Wayne Hills 48, Old Tappan 7: Mike Quinn completed 19 passes for a school-record 326 yards and four touchdowns Wayne Hills (5-0) destroyed Old Tappan. It was Hills's 45th win in a row. Justin Hourihan was on the receiving end of seven passes for 135 yards and three scores. Bryan Ogden made eight catches for 121 yards.
Junior tackle Mike Tumminello led the defensive charge with six tackles, five for losses, and three sacks. Bryan Dickman grabbed a 20-yard TD pass from Quinn. Ron Driesse raced nine yards for a touchdown for Wayne Hills. Tom DiBianca rushed for a four yard score.
10/4/08: Wayne Hills 38, Mahwah 14: Tailback/defensive back Ronnie Dreisse returned to the Wayne Hills lineup after suffering a leg injury on opening night. The senior healed enough to only play defense. He came up with a 36-yard fumble return for a touchdown as Hills won its 44th straight game. Tim Divers had a 27 yard field goal and Brian Dowling ran for a one yard touchdown to help put Wayne up 17-0 at the half.
Mahwaw opened up the second half with an onside kick that was recovered by Jason Sokolowski. On the next play Jamal Clay hit Dan Buonocore with a a 46 yard touchdown pass on a quarterback option. Mike Quinn helped Hills maintain the lead with touchdown tosses of 4 and 34 yards to Brian Ogden.
Dowling ended up with 70 yards rushing and 52 yards receiving. Ogden had 72 yards receiving. Mike Waller registered 12 tackles. Ryan Daddurno and Matt DeBlock had 8 tackles apiece.
9/28/08: Wayne Hills 31, Ramapo 21: Sophomore tailback Brian Dowling rushed for 126 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Mike Quinn completed 13 passes for 124 yards, including a scoring pass to Justin Hourihan. Wayne Hills scored the first 24 points, enroute to its 43rd straight win. Dowling had scoring runs of 1, 4 and 21 yards. Tim Divers booted four extra points and a 24-yard field goal.
Ramapo made a late charge. Andrew Weiss threw two TD passes to Chris Larsen. Jesse Devonshuk scored on a one yard run. Hourihan's touchdown sealed it for the Patriots. Byran Odgen and Bryan Dickman caught big third down passes on the drive.
"Dowling made a huge difference for us," Quinn said. "He played a spectacular game for a sophomore."
"They (Ramapo) are good," said Hills coach Chris Olsen. "If there is a better 1-2 team around, I want to see them."
9/20/08: Wayne Hills 49, Bergenfield 8, By Skiffo Drake: Brian Dowling scored on runs of 9, 4 and 70 yards as Hills won in a slaughter. Tom DiBianca scored touchdowns of 34 and 37 yards. Bryan Ogden rushed for a 6 yard score. Mike Quinn threw a 30 yard touchdown pass to Bryan Dickman. Wayne's win streak hit 42 games. Tim Divers connected on all seven extra point attempts. Dowling carried seven times for 166 yards. DiBianca rushed for 115 yards and two scores on seven carries. Mike Quinn completed six of his eight passes for 155 yards. The Patriots led 28-0 as the end of the first quarter.
On defense for Wayne Hills, linebacker Ryan Daddurno recored nine tackles and linebacker James DeDilectis and tackle Nick Tumminello each had eight hits.
9/12/08: Wayne Hills 30, Northern Highlands 6 (at Wayne): Northern Highlands shocked Wayne Hills by scoring on the second play of the game. The TD came when Dave Loman snared a Kevin Kenney dart and ran it in for a 78 yard score. The lead was short lived, as the Hills upped its win streak to 41. Hills scored on its first possession when Ronnie Driesse rushed for a 56 yard score. Bryan Ogden scored on a four yard run and an 18-yard pass from junior Mike Quinn. Sophomore Brian Dowling had an 8-yard touchdown run. Paul Drake tackled the NH quarterback for a safety. Quinn ended up with 12 completions. Dowling accumulated 130 rushing yards. Driesse gained 78 yards.
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