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On a remarkable balmy night in November, Mountain Lakes and Cedar Grove competed in a remarkable football game. The game had everything in it that makes high school football so great--long runs, long completions, hard hitting, tough defense and even great punts.
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After a scoreless first quarter, each team scored twice in the second quarter. Mountain Lakes running back Greg DeLuca scampered for TD runs of 54 yards and 41 yards. Cedar Grove not to be outdone had Patsy Caggiano with a 74 yard TD run and a 18 yard reception by Drew Evangelista. Mountain Lakes failed on two extra point tries and trailed 14-12 at the half.
Cedar Grove had the only score in the third quarter with a forty yard TD pass thrown to William Gonzalez from Dan Gogerty. Mountain Lakes could not mount any offense after quarterback/running back Jake Tripucka suffered cramps in the middle of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was a different story. Tripucka recovered from his cramps and sparked the team with a 69-yard bomb to Austin DeMarco to pull the Herd within two points.
Mountain Lakes then got the football back and with some magical passing by Tripucka they drove down the field to set up a Greg DeLuca six yard run to put them ahead for good. Cedar Grove could not move the ball on its ensuing drive and the Herd put the sports contest away on a Nick LoBiondo touchdown plunge.
The victory boosts Mountain Lakes to 8-0 on the season and moves them up in the seedings of the North Jersey Section 1, Group I state football playoffs. Depending on results of other games this weekend, the Herd will end up as the #1 or #2 seed in the bracket. -- Rob Donohue for Jersey Sports Now
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