Stifled offensively for much of the night, West Essex found its footing just in time in its football match-up with Orange. The Knights scored twice in the final seven minutes to pull out an exciting 20-14 victory.

Brian O'Neill hauled in a 34-yard touchdown pass with 1:30 to play from Zach Lemanski for the winning score. Lemanski led a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown drives after Orange built a 14-6 lead late in the third period.

The sophomore quarterback tossed a 7-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Scaglia on a fourth-and-goal to bring the Knights within two points. But a failed two-point conversion left West Essex trailing. After a key holding penalty helped stop Orange on the next drive, the Knights moved in for the winning score.

O'Neill had 163 total yards (91 receiving, 72 rushing) to lead West Essex. His touchdown run in the second quarter, set up by a bad punt snap by Orange, provided the only points for the Knights until the final period.

Lemanski went 9-for-16 for 112 yards and the two TD's. Mike Lacovara had 55 rushing yards and was in on a sack that helped end Orange's final drive in the last minute of the game.

George Crespo threw for 85 yards for Orange, including the two-yard touchdown pass to Rasheed Boyd that put the Tornadoes ahead in the third quarter. Nyquee Hawkins caught two passes for 51 yards.

Tyrese Harris scored Orange's first touchdown on an 81-yard kickoff return and also led the Tornadoes in rushing with 68 yards.

With the win, West Essex bounces back from a defeat last week to go to 2-1. Orange drops to 1-2.

For sports video highlights of this New Jersey and North Jersey Super Football Conference high school football game, click play in the box at left.