Northern Highlands High School captured the North 1, Group 4 sectional football title by defeating Middletown South 31-7 on Nov. 13.
The victory marks a significant milestone for the program, which had suffered losses in the final round for three consecutive years before breaking through, according to Yahoo Sports.
The Highlanders established control early in the game, scoring on all three of their first-half possessions to build a commanding 21-0 lead by halftime.
Junior running back Michael Strandes opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown reception from sophomore quarterback Jack Branagh.
Branagh later extended the lead with a 12-yard rushing touchdown late in the first quarter.
Strandes added his second score of the night with a 1-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the first half, as reported by NorthJersey.com.
The highlight of the second half occurred when senior Joss Granas returned an interception 84 yards for a touchdown.
This play pushed the Northern Highlands lead to 28-0 midway through the third quarter.
Reflecting on the team’s persistence, Granas noted the importance of the win after years of disappointment.
“It was huge that we could finally push over the hump and get this win,” Granas said, as cited by Yahoo Sports.
Middletown South managed to avoid a shutout in the third quarter when senior running back Justin Rosato scored on a 2-yard run.
That score narrowed the deficit to 28-7, but the Highlanders maintained their defensive intensity for the remainder of the contest.
The win improves the Northern Highlands record to 8-3 for the season, while Middletown South concludes its campaign at 7-4, per NorthJersey.com.
The result serves as a culmination of efforts for the senior class, which had experienced the heartbreak of previous sectional final defeats.
The Highlanders’ efficient offense and opportunistic defense were the deciding factors in the championship victory.