Photos: Wayne Hills; Ramapo
When St. Jospeh's-Montvale beat Wayne Hills earlier this season, the game was wide publicized for ending Wayne's 55-game win streak. While that was true, Hills still had another, far more important streak going - the team's mark of five straight State Sectional Championships was still very much intact. That impressive run actually included six titles in seven years.
The consecutive title streak came to a grinding halt against Ramapo (10-2, No. 6) in the final. It was Ramapo's fourth final game win over Hills (1993, 2000, 2001, 2009). Hills beat Ramapo in the 2002 final. It was the eighth ever playoff meeting between the two schools. Ramapo beat Hills in the 2003 semifinal and Hills beat Ramapo in the 2004 and 2005 semifinal.
In this one, Jesse Devonshuk, Ramapo's standout running back, was carted off the field on the third play of the game and did not return. The setback did not derail Ramapo, who pulled off the upset. It was Wayne Hills (10-2, No. 1) first loss to a public school team since 2004, when they also lost to Ramapo.
Ramapo employed the running of Jack Bandazian, Scott Kuenzle and Sean Munier and a smothering defense featuring linebacker Munier, tackle Tim Kologrivov and back Justin Salter to hurry quarterback Mike Quinn and stop runner Brian Dowling.
Ramapo employed the running of Jack Bandazian, Scott Kuenzle and Sean Munier and a smothering defense featuring linebacker Munier, tackle Tim Kologrivov and back Justin Salter to hurry quarterback Mike Quinn and stop runner Brian Dowling.
"I loved the way no one hung their heads after Jesse got hurt," Munier said.
"Everyone was shocked when Jesse got hurt," added Kuenzle. "We had to get back up and fight and that is what we did. If we didn't believe in everyone on this team we would not have made it this far."
Quinn, a senior, had his worst performance, many times throwing over his intended receiver in the trying conditions. He concluded completing 5 of 26 passes for 14 yards. Ramapo quarterback Tyler Ward fared much better in the snowy, windy conditions. The Green Raider signal caller completed 7 of 11 passes for 113 yards.
``We did a bad job all-around - players and coaches,’’ Wayne Hills coach Chris Olsen said. ``We couldn't throw. We couldn't pass. On the first possession we moved the ball well and then we let them drive 80 yards on us. We just picked a bad day not to play well. It wasn’t the weather or anything else. They out-performed us.’’
Ramapo scored on its second possession, moving 80 yards in 13 plays. Kuenzle ran 22 yards for the touchdown and Ross Krautman’s kick gave Ramapo a 7-0 lead.
Ramapo tacked on two more points on a safety with 11:57 left in the second period. On an attempted punt, the ball slipped through Tim Divers hands and out of the end zone.
Ramapo scored its final points of the game 2:46 later. Divers again attempted to punt but went down on a knee and Ramapo took over on the Wayne Hills 45. On the first play, Munier hauled in a pass from Tyler Ward and Krautman’s kick put Ramapo in front, 16-0.
Wayne Hills finally broke through with 8:14 remaining in the third quarter. Ed Schiller recovered a fumble on an attempted punt on Ramapo’s 22 and on the third play, Brian Dowling scored from the six. Dowling also had the two-point conversion run.
Quinn, a senior, had his worst performance, many times throwing over his intended receiver in the trying conditions. He concluded completing 5 of 26 passes for 14 yards. Ramapo quarterback Tyler Ward fared much better in the snowy, windy conditions. The Green Raider signal caller completed 7 of 11 passes for 113 yards.
``We did a bad job all-around - players and coaches,’’ Wayne Hills coach Chris Olsen said. ``We couldn't throw. We couldn't pass. On the first possession we moved the ball well and then we let them drive 80 yards on us. We just picked a bad day not to play well. It wasn’t the weather or anything else. They out-performed us.’’
Ramapo scored on its second possession, moving 80 yards in 13 plays. Kuenzle ran 22 yards for the touchdown and Ross Krautman’s kick gave Ramapo a 7-0 lead.
Ramapo tacked on two more points on a safety with 11:57 left in the second period. On an attempted punt, the ball slipped through Tim Divers hands and out of the end zone.
Ramapo scored its final points of the game 2:46 later. Divers again attempted to punt but went down on a knee and Ramapo took over on the Wayne Hills 45. On the first play, Munier hauled in a pass from Tyler Ward and Krautman’s kick put Ramapo in front, 16-0.
Wayne Hills finally broke through with 8:14 remaining in the third quarter. Ed Schiller recovered a fumble on an attempted punt on Ramapo’s 22 and on the third play, Brian Dowling scored from the six. Dowling also had the two-point conversion run.
The Ramapo running back tandem of Kuenzle, Munier and Bandazian combined for 71 ground yards. Dowling led Hills with 53 rushing yards. Hills was 2-for-12 on third downs and 0-for-6 on fourth downs.
"Ramapo and Wayne Hills is the greatest rivalry around," said Ramapo coach Drew Gibbs. "It doesn't get any better than this - Giants Stadium, the snow and a great rivalry. And when you beat a great team like Wayne Hills, you know that you are as good as anybody."
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