All year long, Mountain Lakes relied on its running game when it was time to take over a football contest. Often that happened in the first quarter, but in the Herd's sectional final against Glen Rock at Giants Stadium, the moment came after halftime. In a game that seemed headed down to the wire, Mountain Lakes took charge and emerged as champions.

Mountain Lakes scored touchdowns on three straight possessions after stopping Glen Rock in its own territory and pulled away to a 35-21 victory. The Herd completes a perfect 12-0 season and wins its first high school sectional football title since 2002, in North Jersey Section 1, Group I.

With the game knotted at 14, Glen Rock had the football in Herd territory, but a Chase Winter interception ended the drive and gave Mountain Lakes the ball in good field position. The Herd moved it crisply downfield, culminating in a 3-yard Nick LoBiondo run to give Mountain Lakes its first lead of the contest.

Early in the 4th quarter, Glen Rock reached the Herd's 5-yard line. But a key sack by Jack Nagle pushed the Panthers back, and James Callahan broke up a 4th-down pass. Two plays later, Mountain Lakes delivered the crushing blow of this ballgame, played on a cold night at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. LoBiondo, the Herd fullback so often overshadowed by stars Greg DeLuca and Jake Tripucka, took a handoff up the middle and outran the Glen Rock defense 84 yards for the score to make it 28-14. LoBiondo showed great speed in outrunning the safety.

"The offensive line did a great job in opening up holes all day," LoBiondo said. "I just found the running room and took off."

"Everybody overlooks him, but he's one of the fastest runners we've got," said Mountain Lakes coach Doug Wilkins. "He's been running so well and so tough, and what a great run that was."

Glen Rock again moved the football into Herd territory on its next drive. But once again Mountain Lakes stiffened and turned the ball over on downs. A few plays later, DeLuca put some icing on the cake with a 63-yard touchdown scamper, starting out on the sweep right, then cutting back against the grain. A meaningless touchdown with six seconds left made the final score 35-21.

Despite the loss, Glen Rock's multitalented quarterback Chuck Stewart had a huge day. He threw for over 200 yards and two touchdowns, and also caught a 46-yard touchdown pass for a score. The Panthers took the lead twice in the first half, but both times the Herd responded immediately to tie the score.

With the win, Mountain Lakes achieved what it could not each of the last two years. In 2006, the Herd reached the final but lost a one-sided game to Bogota High School. Last year Mountain Lakes was upset by Cresskill in the first round of the New Jersey state playoffs.

"This is the goal every year, but for (the seniors) especially it's been the goal," said DeLuca. "We got it done."

"We've won in lacrosse, but this is just totally awesome," added Tripucka. "It's been a dream of ours and it finally came true."

Wilkins capped off his 43rd year of coaching with his third sectional title earned in playoff competition (the Herd won other titles before the New Jersey sports playoff system began). "I'm elated for these kids," he said. "Sometimes you live your dream and that's what we have done this year."