NUTLEY, NJ (updated Monday, Nov. 7, 12:49 p.m.) – Nick Mainiero ran for 217 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries and sophomore quarterback Josh O’Neill ran for four touchdowns to lead the Nutley High School varsity football team to a 57-38 win over Barringer on Friday, Nov. 4, at Schools Stadium.
The Raiders improved to a 3-6 record.
Following a scoreless first quarter, the Raiders led 15-8 at halftime. Mainiero had a nine-yard touchdown run and Steve Clausen scored on the two-point conversion run. O’Neill scored on a one-yard run. Hunter Lechthaler kicked the extra point.
In the third quarter, Nutley scored three touchdowns. O’Neill scored on runs of 52 yards and one yard and Mainiero had a 35-yard touchdown run. Lechthaler kicked the three extra points. Barringer also scored 22 points in the quarter as Nutley led 36-30 going into the fourth quarter.
The Raiders maintained control in the fourth quarter with three more touchdowns. Lechthaler had a 60-yard touchdown run; Frank Galasso had a 33-yard touchdown run and O’Neill scored on a one-yard run. Lechthaler kicked the three extra points.
O’Neill finished with 79 rushing yards on 10 carries. Sam Abreu rushed for 77 yards on 14 carries; Sabino Coppola had 10 carries for 58 yards and Galasso finished with 64 yards on four carries.
Defensively for the Raiders, Jon Luberto had seven tackles and a caused fumble; Coppola and Frank DeMaio each had five tackles; Abreu had four tackles; Mike Paolello had three tackles and a sack; Vincent Russo had three tackles and an interception; and Ryan O’Mara and Wayne Whittmann each had three tackles.
The Raiders received the No. 8 seed in the state North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 playoffs and and will visit top-seeded West Essex in the first round on Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. in North Caldwell.
The game is a rematch of last year’s first-round game won by West Essex, 28-7, at Tangorra Field/Park Oval. That loss ended Nutley’s 2015 season at 8-2, after Nutley started 8-0. Nutley was the No. 2 seed and West Essex was No. 7 last year.
West Essex also beat Nutley in this year’s season opener, 27-7.
North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 playoffs
8-Nutley at 1-West Essex
5-Snyder at 4-Parsippany Hills
6-Governor Livingston at 3-Morris Hills
7-Orange at 2-Ridgefield Park
Nutley (3-6)
Sept. 9, Loss, at West Essex, 27-7
Sept. 16, Loss, at Bloomfield, 39-17
Sept. 24, Won, Pascack Valley, 31-14
Sept. 30, Loss, at Irvington, 20-0
Oct. 8, Loss, Paramus, 45-23
Oct. 15, Loss, at Orange, 36-29 (OT)
Oct. 22, Won, Chatham, 17-14
Oct. 29, Loss, Parsippany Hills, 28-14
Nov. 4, Won, at Barringer, 57-20
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