Football Game Preview: Ramapo Raiders vs. Northern Highlands Highlanders

Ramapo is on a nine-game streak of home wins (dating back to last season), while Northern Highlands is on a five-game streak of away wins: one of those streaks is about to end. The Raiders will host the Highlanders at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. The two teams have allowed few points on average (Ramapo 9.7, Northern Highlands 13) so any points scored will be well earned.

Ramapo is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They blew past Wayne Valley 48-20. With the Raiders ahead 42-7 at the half, the game was all but over already.

Ramapo had a senior duo take command as Casey Grusser threw for 196 yards and four touchdowns and Joseph Santo Yessis picked up 120 receiving yards and a pair of scores. Yessis showed off some serious burst, connecting on a big catch for 58 yards.

Ramapo's run defense was locked in: Wayne Valley could only muster 1.9 yards per carry. The team can thank Carter Cooney for the heroic effort on defense: he. Ramapo's ground attack was stronger, having averaged 3.6.

Jack Schneider

Total Tackles

11/07/25 vs Wayne Valley	6
10/31/25 vs Hackensack	8
10/24/25 @ Northern Highlands	7
10/17/25 vs Hackensack	6
10/10/25 vs Wayne Valley	6
+ 5 more games

Ramapo didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Michael Ballan and Jack Schneider. Schneider is also crushing it when it comes to total tackles: he's made at least five every time he's taken the field this season. He got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.

Meanwhile, Northern Highlands was able to grind out a solid victory over Mount Olive on Friday, taking the game 20-7. The Highlanders pushed the score to 20-0 by the end of the third, a deficit the Marauders cut but never quite recovered from.

Ramapo better focus on containing Joe Dougherty and Chase Calarco as the pair were huge in Northern Highlands' win. Dougherty rushed for 100 yards and two TDs on only 14 carries, while Calarco rushed for 80 yards.

Ramapo's record now sits at 9-1. As for Northern Highlands, their record is now 8-2.

Ramapo beat Northern Highlands 28-21 in their previous matchup back in October. Will the Raiders repeat their success, or do the Highlanders have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.