Photos by Steve Ellmore: Glen Ridge (dark uniforms) vs. Roselle Park, state playoffs, Nov. 11, at Hurrell Field.
GLEN RIDGE, NJ (updated Sunday Nov. 12, 9:22 a.m.) – Despite a disappointing upset loss to Roselle Park in the state playoffs, the Glen Ridge High School varsity football team can look back at this season with much pride.
The third-seeded Ridgers, under head coach Duke Mendez, finished their successful season with a 6-4 record after losing to sixth-seeded Roselle Park, 27-21, in the quarterfinal round of the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group 1 state playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 11, at Hurrell Field.
The Ridgers enjoyed their best season since 2010 when they went 8-2 in a playoff season.
Senior quarterback/captain Tyler Liddy had a strong game to finish out his career as he completed 15 of 21 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns for the Ridgers, who also had solid contributions from the other seniors in the game.
Liddy rallied the Ridgers from a 14-0 deficit to tie the game, but Roselle Park answered with two straight TDs for a 13-point lead and held on for the win to improve to 6-3.
GRHS senior running back/defensive back/captain Joe Marchesano, the team’s leading rusher this season, had 27 yards and a TD on eight carries, and posted 18 tackles.
Glen Ridge junior split end Tyler Strong had eight catches for 148 yards and a TD, and fellow junior split end/defensive back Simon Low had a TD catch and 16 tackles.
Liddy hit Low on a 28-yard TD pass and Marchesano kicked the extra point in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 14-7 at the half.
Liddy threw an 11-yard TD pass to Strong, followed by Marchesano’s point-after kick, in the third quarter to tie it 14-14.
But Dylan Camillo scored on a 1-yard run for his third TD of the game later in the third quarter and Gary Rexach scored on a 6-yard run in the fourth quarter to give Roselle Park a 27-14 lead.
Marchesano had a 3-yard TD run and kicked the extra point in the fourth quarter to produce the final margin. Marchesano also finished with three catches for 14 yards.
Senior split end/defensive Avery Hackett had one carry for 10 yards, two catches for 16 yards, and nine tackles with one caused fumble.
Defensively for the Ridgers, senior linebacker/captain Max Auborn had 15 tackles; senior LB/captain Kieran Moran had 14 tackles with one sack; senior lineman Jack Olczak also had 14 tackles with one sack and one fumble recovery; sophomore DB Brendan Easter had nine tackles; and senior DB David Weissenberger had four tackles with one fumble recovery.
Interestingly, the Ridgers participated in preseason scrimmages against Roselle Park for the past few years, all at Roselle Park. But this year, the teams did not scrimmage each other.
The Ridgers were seeking their first NJSIAA state playoff win since 1982 when they won their third North Jersey Section 2, Group 1 state title. Glen Ridge has lost seven straight state playoff games. They are now 4-10 all-time in the NJSIAA state playoffs. The Ridgers’ other state titles, all in Section 2, Group 1, came in 1977 and 1980. They are 3-0 in state finals. Glen Ridge beat Roselle Park in the 1980 state final.
Mendez has completed his 26th overall season at the GRHS helm. This season was his 15th in his second stint since returning to the helm at the beginning of the 2003 season. He was head coach for the Ridgers for 11 years from 1985 to 1995.
The Ridgers were seeking their first NJSIAA state playoff win since 1982 when they won their third North Jersey Section 2, Group 1 state title. Glen Ridge has lost seven straight state playoff games. They are now 4-10 all-time in the NJSIAA state playoffs. The Ridgers’ other state titles, all in Section 2, Group 1, came in 1977 and 1980. They are 3-0 in state finals. Glen Ridge beat Roselle Park in the 1980 state final.
Mendez has completed his 26th overall season at the GRHS helm. This season was his 15th in his second stint since returning to the helm at the beginning of the 2003 season. He was head coach for the Ridgers for 11 years from 1985 to 1995.
Glen Ridge (6-4)
Sept. 9, Won, Butler, 48-7
Sept. 16, Won, at Newark Collegiate Academy, 49-22
Sept. 23, Won, at Montclair Kimberley Academy, 55=19
Sept. 29, Loss, Cedar Grove, 28-14
Oct. 7, Won, Verona, 49-14
Oct. 13, Loss, at Weequahic, 42-8
Oct. 20, Loss, at Shabazz, 44-6
Oct. 28, Won, Immaculate Conception of Montclair, 62-22
Nov. 3, Won, at Hoboken, 39-24
Nov. 11, Loss, Roselle Park, 27-21*
*North Jersey Section 2, Group 1 playoffs
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