Belleville HS football team defeats Orange for second straight win to improve 3-2

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Senior running back James Cook Jr. ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries to lead the Belleville High School football team to its second straight win with a 21-6 victory over Orange on Oct. 1 at Doc Ellis Field/Municipal Stadium.

Cook ran for a 30-yard TD to open the scoring in the first quarter for a 6-0 lead. The extra-point failed. Cook had an 8-yard TD in the fourth quarter. Bryce Gude kicked the extra point.

Junior quarterback Brent Rojas completed 4 of 7 passes for 66 yards, including a 46-yard TD pass to senior wide receiver Al Horne. Cook scored on the two-point conversion run.

Rojas also finished with 54 rushing yards on nine carries.

Senior tight end/defensive end Terrence Folkes also had five carries for 43 yards and posted five tackles on defense. Senior safety Chris Vitale also had five tackles for the Buccaneers, who improved to a 3-2 overall record on the season. Orange fell to 0-5.

The Bucs will visit West Essex on Saturday, Oct. 9, at 1 p.m.

Belleville’s two losses were close. They fell by one point to Nutley and two points to Millburn.

Belleville, 3-2 record

Sept. 4: Win, at Barringer, 44-6

Sept. 10: Loss, vs. Nutley, 29-28

Sept. 18: Loss, vs. Millburn, 24-22

Sept. 24: Win, at East Side, 51-8

Oct. 1: Win, vs. Orange, 21-6

Oct. 9: at West Essex, 1 p.m.

Oct. 15: at Passaic, 7 p.m.

Oct. 22: at Kearny, 7 p.m.

Oct. 29: vs. North Bergen, 7 p.m.