Some New Jersey title teams begin new football traditions

Once Barry Blauvelt was lowered off his players' shoulders at midfield of New Meadowlands Stadium, seconds removed from his Wallington team winning its second state title and first since 1991, he removed himself from the finest moment of his coaching career.

"This is huge," Blauvelt said after his Panthers beat Mountain Lakes for the North 1, Group 1 title at New Meadowlands Stadium last Friday. "When your athletic programs are doing well, everyone walks around with a smile on their face. Over the next few months, I doubt you'll see anybody angry in our town."

While winning in the state finals offered Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), Glassboro, St. Joseph (Hammonton) and Wayne Hills opportunities to extend their current championship runs, hoisting championship hardware could begin fresh traditions at places like Haddonfield and Rumson-Fair Haven (which won their first crowns) as well as Freehold Boro, Lakeland Regional (Wanaque) and Wallington (which got to celebrate their second titles).

MaxPreps' New Jersey football playoff brackets

Think of the underclassmen in these programs who got to celebrate being heroes of the day this past weekend and how they will take these memories into off-season training. Think of the youngsters in the stands watching their town's team win the title and how they may have now envisioned themselves following in the footsteps of their older brothers.

Especially in a small, close-knit town like Wallington, which won its first state title since 1991 thanks to a senior class that erased the memories of the Panthers winning just nine games in the four years before they became part of the program.

Sure, a lot can happen between now and next September. But for these newcomers to celebrating championship glory, last weekend could be the start of a new dynasty.

Other news items from around the Garden State:

WAYNE WINS ON IMPROBABLE RETURN
With 23 seconds left after Northern Valley seized a 21-17 lead, it seemed that the only hope for Wayne Hills (Wayne) of claiming its sixth North 1, Group 3 championship was through some sort of divine intervention.

Brian Dowling found himself nearly tackled during the ensuing kickoff return - Northern Valley said afterward it heard a whistle - but lateraled to Troy Zaffino, who found a lane and scampered 76 yards up the left sideline to the shocking go-ahead touchdown, giving Wayne Hills a 24-21 lead and another title to add to its trophy case.

Certainly, it ranks as one of the great championship-game finishes in state history and Zaffino's return might rank as the most memorable play of the Patriots' dynasty. Still, a tough way to lose for Northern Valley, which defeated Paramus in perhaps the greatest New Jersey non-championship playoff game ever, 63-56, just to reach the sectional final.

"After [Northern Valley] scored, I was sick," Wayne Hills coach Chris Olsen said. "That play was not a set play. It was pure reaction by Brian. And anytime Brian has his hands on the ball, we feel pretty good."

DON BOSCO REIGNS AGAIN
In what has become an annual rite of passage, Don Bosco earned its fifth straight Non-Public Group 4 championship by staving off chief rival Bergen Catholic, 37-27, at New Meadowlands Stadium. The Ironmen now have the state's longest winning streak at 35 straight games after Mountain Lakes saw its 35-game victory run halted in the North 1, Group 1 final by Wallington.

Don Bosco's last loss in New Jersey came in the 2005 Non-Public Group 4 final on Dec. 2 of that year, a 22-15 setback against St. Peter's Prep. The Ironmen have not dropped a decision since a 17-10 loss to St. Xavier on Sept. 13, 2008.

BOTTONE, STEM ANNOUNCE RETIREMENTS
Several seniors played their final high school games in the state finals, but Frank Bottone, the only coach New Providence has ever known in its 46 seasons as a varsity program, exited with a North 2, Group 1 state title after the Pioneers dispatched of Lincoln, 21-8, at New Meadowland Stadium on Saturday.

While earning his sixth state championship, Bottone concluded his career with a 334-125-7 mark, the fourth-most victories in state history.

"It can't get any better than this," Bottone said. "I was very calm. I think I was more excited than nervous."

Meanwhile, Phillipsburg coach Bob Stem, 71, announced he was retiring last Thursday after 36 seasons of coaching the Stateliners and Bethlehem Catholic. Stem finished as Phillipsburg's all-time winningest coach, finishing 112-43-4 in two stints with the Stateliners and 285-98-6 overall while leading them to four sectional championships (1977, 2005, 2008, 2009).

"I thought about it most of the year," Stem said. "I didn't want to create any distractions during the season. I talked it over with my wife, Janice. I'm no Joe Paterno."

ST. JOSEPH WINS TITLE No. 20
With an impressive 40-0 triumph over St. Mary in the Non-Public Groups 1-2 title game at Rutgers University, St. Joseph (Hammonton) earned its state-best 20th state championship while earning its second straight crown. Of the 19 teams that won state titles last weekend, only Don Bosco Prep (10) has reached double digits in championships. Glassboro (9), Cherokee (Marlton) (8) and Holy Spirit (Absecon) (8) are close behind.

TOP PERFORMERS
* Nadir Barnwell, Piscataway: In the Chiefs' North 2, Group 4 title-game triumph over Hunterdon Central, he finished 6-for-9 for 117 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 94 yards and two scores - including a 60-yard scamper - and made six tackles.

* Paul Canevari, Don Bosco Prep: No one played bigger on a big stage than the Ironmen's senior tailback, who carried 35 times for 264 yards and five scores in a 37-27 triumph over Bergen Catholic in the Non-Public Group 4 championship.

* Jacob Dabal, Lacey: The senior amassed 164 yards and three scores on just 10 carries, one of which was an 84-yard touchdown run, as the Lions rolled to a 56-7 victory over Delsea Regional in the South Group 3 title game.

* Kevin Davis, Haddonfield: On the game's second play, the senior scored on a 74-yard run. He finished with 146 yards on 19 carries as the Bulldawgs shocked West Deptford, 16-8, for their first sectional crown in the South Group 2 final.

* Brian Dowling, Wayne Hills: The Patriots' do-everything senior rushing 34 times for 194 yards and two scores, but most importantly lateraled to teammate Troy Zaffino to trigger the game-winning 76-yard kickoff return as Wayne Hills downed Northern Valley, 24-21, for its sixth North 1, Group 3 title in seven years.

* Kevin Gaskins, Morristown: The senior carried 30 times for 308 yards and touchdowns of 57, 64 and 67 yards as the Colonials downed Nutley in the North 2, Group 3 final - their first sectional crown since 1999.

* Steve Hartley, Holy Spirit: The senior linebacker finished with 12 stops and three sacks to lead a stout defensive effort in the Spartans' Non-Public Group 3 title victory.

* Tyler Healy, Randolph: The senior safety accounted for two of his team's five interceptions and made five stops to help hold Montclair to 201 yards in the Rams' 19-0 triumph over Montclair in the North 1, Group 4 title contest. It gave the program its first sectional crown since 1990.

* Ismail Herring, Sayreville: The junior made five stops (3.5 for losses) and added two sacks as the Bombers limited Brick Memorial to 112 yards to win the Central Group 4 crown, 14-0.

* Gordon Hill, St. Joseph: The senior fullback churned out 215 yards and three touchdowns on 22 handoffs as the Wildcats crushed St. Mary, 40-0, in the Non-Public Groups 1 & 2 final.

* Paul James, Glassboro: In addition to rushing for 130 yards, the senior scored touchdowns on the ground, through the air and via an interception return in the Bulldogs' 36-0 win over Paulsboro in the South Group 1 championship.

* Joe Sarnese, Holy Spirit: The senior wideout/safety returned a kickoff 81 yards to paydirt, caught five passes for 43 yards and recovered a fumble as the Spartans upended perennial power St. Joseph Regional, 14-13, in the Non-Public Group 3 championship game.

* Criss Sullivan, Wallington: The senior rolled up 215 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers earned their second North 1, Group 1 title, halting Mountain Lakes' 35-game win streak by a 23-21 final.

* Eric Sinke, Lakeland: The senior linebacker led the Lancers' defense in their 20-0 victory over Ramsey in the North 1, Group 2 final. His final stat line: 11 tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.

RECRUITING NEWS
Scheduled to take visits this weekend are St. Peter's Prep running back Savon Huggins (Wisconsin), Union City lineman Josue Matias (Florida), St. Peter's Prep safety Sheldon Royster (Rutgers), Bergen Catholic quarterback Tanner McEvoy (South Carolina). All four have Rutgers and North Carolina among their finalists. ... Northern Valley quarterback/safety Devin Fuller has been offered by Boston College and Rutgers. ... One of the state's best under-the-radar players, Manchester Regional defensive end/tight end Taques Franklin, possesses offers from Michigan, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Syracuse. The 6-5, 220-pound Franklin rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season for the Falcons. ... New Egypt 6-9, 195-pound basketball center Desmond Hubert is still considering Georgia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina State, Princeton, Rice, Villanova and Wake Forest.

BRIEFLY
Of the 19 state champions in football, seven were No. 1 seeds, seven were No. 2 seeds and four were seeded third. Morristown, the titlist in North 2, Group 3, was seeded fourth and had the most losses (four) of any sectional winner. ... Delbarton's (Morristown) ice hockey team opened defense of its NJSIAA Non-Public championship with impressive victories over Bergen Catholic (4-2) and Gloucester Catholic (2-1), the latter being a rematch of last winter's Non-Public title game.