GLEN RIDGE, NJ – Junior running back Joe Marchesano rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries; junior quarterback Tyler Liddy completed six of eight passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns; and sophomore defensive back Simon Low (12 tackles, two sacks, one interception), freshman defensive back Jackson Crutchfield (11 tackles, one interception for a touchdown) and senior lineman Jonny Bronander (11 tackles) led a strong defense to lead the Glen Ridge High School varsity football team to an emphatic 48-0 win over Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Oct. 29, in Montclair.
The Ridgers snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to a 3-5 overall record. The Ridgers also are in sixth place in the state North Jersey Section 2, Group 1 power-points standings with 68 points. The top eight teams in the power-points standings through the first eight games earn playoff berths. The Ridgers have appeared in the state North Jersey Section 2, Group 1 playoffs for three straight seasons (2013-2015).
GRHS jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter. Senior tight end Owen Fincher returned a blocked punt five yards for a touchdown, followed by senior Matt Myles’ extra point kick, for a 7-0 lead.
Liddy connected with Myles on a 55-yard touchdown pass to make it 13-0. The two-point conversion run failed.
Crutchfield returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown and Myles kicked the extra point to make it 20-0.
In the second quarter, Marchesano scored on runs of 8 yards and 30 yards and Liddy fired a 31-yard touchdown pass to Myles for a 41-0 halftime lead. Myles kicked the three extra points.
In the fourth quarter, Liddy threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to senior split end Chris Harris and Myles kicked the extra point.
Liddy finished with 30 rushing yards on three carries.
Myles finished with two catches, both for touchdowns. Fincher had two catches for 13 yards.
On defense, Marchesano had five tackles and an interception as a defensive back; Fincher had eight tackles and a sack as a linebacker, along with his blocked punt return for a touchdown; junior linebacker Max Auborn had six tackles and a forced fumble; senior lineman Ryan Liddy had four tackles and a sack; junior defensive back Jose McCallen-Villafene had an interception and junior lineman Jack Olczak had two tackles and a sack.
Immaculate Conception moved to 3-5.
The Ridgers will host Hoboken (4-4) on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 2:30 p.m.