Sunday, December 7, 2014

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

Brandon Gallagher scored two rushing TDs for Westwood, which capped an undefeated season with a 21-7 win over Waldwick/Midland Park in the North 1, Group 2 state sectional final.

EAST RUTHERFORD – There have been countless times throughout his illustrious scholastic football career when Westwood’s Nolan Borgersen has looked up and seen nothing but green grass and an end zone in front of him. That is what happens when you are New Jersey’s all-time leader in neatly every major category for wide receivers. In Saturday’s North 1, Group 2 state sectional final against Waldwick/Midland Park, Borgersen turned around and saw plenty of green in front of him only this time it was from a different angle. This time it was Borgersen who was doing the chasing.

With his team was clinging to a slim lead 13-7 lead Borgersen was trying to track down Waldwick/Midland Park’s Nick Dragonetti. With the momentum of game hinging on one single play, Borgersen knew he could let Dragonetti reach the end zone.

It is not often that someone so prolific in one part of the game has the defining play of his career come in another area, but that it exactly what happened. Borgersen used his 4.5 speed to close a gap of close to 30 yards to make the tackle inside the 10. The rest of the defense held firm, stuffing the Warriors just inches from the goal line on fourth down.

“When I saw him in the clear, I had to run my fastest to catch him because I couldn’t let him score,” said Borgersen. “I knew if I caught him that our defense would do the job. Waldwick has a tough physical offense, but we’ve gotten goal-line stops before against River Dell and Ramsey this season so we felt comfortable that we could do it again in a pressure situation.”

The Cardinals then marched 99 yards in 11 plays for the game-clinching drive that was capped by Brandon Gallagher’s second rushing touchdown of the afternoon as second-seeded Westwood climbed to the top of the mountain once again by beating top-seeded Waldwick/Midland Park in the final game of the season for the second straight year. With a 21-7 triumph at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, Westwood made it back-to-back state sectional titles.

Ron Kruis (22) had an interception for Waldwick/MP, which forced four turnovers in the game.

“This is what you play for and we found a way to get it done,” said Westwood head coach Vito Campanile. “We didn’t play our best football and I’m sure Waldwick will say they didn’t either. All you can do is prepare yourself to be ready for tough situations. We didn’t play the cleanest game, but we rose the challenge when we needed to.”

Borgersen had a long punt return to give the Cardinals good field position and he turned it into points on the very next play. Lined up on the right side, he ran a post-corner route toward the pylon. Warriors’ defensive standout Ron Kruis was draped all over him, but senior QB Collin Saunders dropped in a perfect pass with Borgersen making a leaping catch and falling into the end zone for the touchdown and a 7-0 lead just past the midway point of the first quarter.

Waldwick has thrived on running the ball all year, but junior quarterback Ryan Moore put a little wrinkle into that with a 46-yard strike down the left sideline to James Kennedy all the way down to the Westwood 1. Two plays later, Moore scored on a quarterback sneak with Kruis knocking through the PAT to knot the score at 7 with 47 seconds to play in the first quarter.

Ball security is what got both teams to this game, but both had uncharacteristic turnovers all game long. Dragonetti fumbled for just the second time all season with Westwood’s Ryan Lawton recovering. After a pass interference penalty on a third-down incompletion kept the drive alive, Gallgher bulldozed his way in from three yards out to make it 13-7. Waldwick had a chance for a Hail Mary pass on the final play of the half but it was tipped by Saunders and then picked off by Evan Hull to end the half with the Cardinals holding a six-point lead.

Westwood's Nolan Borgersen securing the final TD catch of his outstanding high school career.

On the Warriors’ first possession of the second half, Dragonetti burst through a big hole and there was no defender between him and the end zone as he rumbled down the field. Borgersen was covering what he thought might be an option pitch, but instead heard the roar of the crowd that made him turn around. All he could see was the back of Dragonetti’s jersey and the end zone. At that point, he had to personally make sure that they two did not meet. He sprinted all the way to catch Dragonetti at the nine-yard line.

On the next play, Lee swept around to the right and was tackled at the line of scrimmage. After the play a flag was thrown and Hull, one of Westwood’s best defenders, was ejected from the game. The Warriors inched closer on the next two plays but were just outside the one-yard line on fourth down. Moore attempted to sneak over again but was met by a gang of Cardinal defenders at the goal line, forcing a turnover on downs.

On a third-and-7 from just outside the end zone the other half of Westwood’s quarterback tandem, Zach Hopkins, hit Borgersen on a 10-yard out to give the Cardinals some breathing room. He then hooked up with Lawton for a 25-yard gain and Borgersen for another 17-yard strike. Before the Warriors knew what hit them, the Cardinals were on the move. Gallagher ran hard all afternoon and hit a hole on the right side for a two-yard touchdown with Saunders connected with Lawton in the back of the end zone for the two-point conversion and a 21-7 lead.

“Once we got that goal-line stand and got a couple of completions in a row we felt like we had to score,” said Gallagher. “It starts up front and our work in the weight room ever since last year showed up today. We were very physical all game but had to cut down on the turnovers if we were going to continue having success.”

Westwood had a chance to put the game away late in the third quarter but Kennedy made a great one-handed play to break up a deep pass at the goal line with Kruis pulling it in for the interception.

James Kennedy and Waldwick/MP finished the season with an 11-1 record.

Waldwick/Midland Park (11-1) gained some momentum and once again marched deep into Westwood territory. The Cardinal defense was up the task as Zach Bellion knocked down a fourth-down pass in the end zone that all but sealed Westwood’s 17th win in a row and a second straight state title.

“We had our opportunities and we didn’t cash in on them in the red zone,” said Waldwick/Midland Park head coach Greg Gruzdis. “Westwood is a very good team, there’s a reason they’ve won so many games in a row. You have to finish off drives and put points on the board if you want to win.”

After rushing for 225 yards and three touchdowns in a section semifinal win over Lenape Valley, Gallagher followed that up with a 30-carry, 199-yard, two-touchdown effort yesterday for Westwood (12-0). Borgersen capped off his record-breaking career with another outstanding performance, catching 11 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. He also recorded five tackles and two pass breakups. It was a fitting ending for both Borgersen and his senior teammates.

“These are experiences you look back on when you’re older and you’re glad to be a part of them,” said Borgersen, who will play at Boston College next year. “It’s the best feeling in the world. Nine years of playing football and four years of high school. To come to MetLife Stadium and win a state title after doing at Kean last year with my best friends is incredible. For this team, these coaches, and especially for our 15 seniors, it’s the absolute perfect way to go out.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME. TO BUY A COLLECTOR'S PRINT OF THIS STORY, PLEASE VISIT 4FeetGrafix.com.