JERSEY CITY AND BEYOND — Three Hudson County football teams have advanced to their respective state championship games, following big wins over the weekend.
First, the state’s top-ranked team, St. Peter’s Prep, overcame a 14-10 halftime deficit to bombard Bergen Catholic, 31-14, before a packed crowd of 2,500 at Caven Point Cochrane Stadium, thanks to three long touchdown passes from Brandon Wimbush to Minkah Fitzpatrick.
After Wimbush threw an uncharacteristic three interceptions in the first half (he had one interception all season prior), Wimbush fired strikes of 42, 44 and 63 yards to Fitzpatrick in the third quarter to propel the Marauders to a return trip to the state finals to see Paramus Catholic, the team that defeated the Marauders in the state title game a year ago. The St. Peter’s Prep-Paramus Catholic game will be played at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands on Friday,. Dec. 5 at 8 p.m.
Lincoln advanced to the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group II state title game with a resounding 36-6 win over Madison in Madison Saturday afternoon. The Lions will now get a chance against top-seeded Mountain Lakes, winners of 23 straight games, the team that sent the Lions reeling from last year’s sectional semifinals. Devell Jones had a huge day for the Lions, rushing for 189 yards and two touchdowns, while teammate Kamani Addison had 118 yards and a score in the win. The 9-1 Lions will play Mountain Lakes at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7 at MetLife Stadium.
It marks the Lions’ first appearance in a state championship game since losing to New Providence in the North 2, Group I title game in 2010. Lincoln has not won a state championship since winning the North 1, Group III crown in 1981.
St. Anthony will make its first-ever appearance in a state championship game, courtesy of the Friars’ devastating 19-6 upset win over previously undefeated St. Mary’s of Ruitherford Saturday afternoon in Rutherford. The Friars will take on perennial state power St. Joseph of Hammonton on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. at Kean University in Union.
The Friars are coached by someone who knows all about state championships, namely Ed Stinson, who guided Hoboken to six state championships during his illustrious tenure in the Mile Square City.
The other locals involved in the state sectional semifinals, namely Hoboken and Union City, both fell to defeat on Friday night. Hoboken was soundly defeated by top-seed Dunellen in North 2, Group I by a 42-19 margin. Union City was upset by Passaic County Tech, 12-6, in the North 1, Group V semifinals, prohibiting the Soaring Eagles from making their quest to get to MetLife Stadium.
For more about the state playoffs, read Jim Hague’s Scoreboard column in Sunday’s editions of the Hudson Reporter.