Orange senior quarterback Maurice Williams is shown during the 50-0 win over Kennedy at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson on Friday, Sept. 1, in the Zone6ix High School Football Classic. Orange senior quarterback Maurice Williams leads several Tornadoes who earned all–Super Football Conference–Patriot Red Division honors. Williams enjoyed a record-breaking season and career. (Photo Courtesy of Orange HS Football)
ORANGE, NJ — The Orange High School football team wanted to make the state playoffs.
The Tornadoes figured they had a chance, sporting a 6-1 record before the final regular season game.
But Orange’s playoff hopes were dashed.
For the second straight season, the Tornadoes missed out on a berth in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s North Jersey, Group 4 state sectional playoffs.
Also for the second year in a row, Orange will play Bergenfield in the North Jersey, Group 4 regional invitational tournament. The regional tournaments consist of teams that just missed qualifying for the state playoffs. This is the second year of the regional tournaments.
After not playing for the past two weeks, Orange returned to action on Saturday, Oct. 21, but lost to Lincoln of Jersey City, 72-32, in a Super Football Conference–Patriot Red Division game in the regular season. The loss ended the Tornadoes’ four-game winning streak and moved their overall record to 6-2. They also finished No. 17 in the United Power Rankings in North, Group 4. The top 16 teams earned playoff berths.
Orange had a bye week two weeks ago. The Tornadoes then received a forfeit win against Dickinson for their homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 14, after Dickinson had a lack of players.
Orange is the No. 1 seed and will host fourth-seeded Bergenfield on Saturday, Oct. 28, in the regional consolation semifinals at 1 p.m.
The other semifinal pits No. 3 seed Millburn at No. 2 seed Chatham on Saturday, Oct. 28. The championship game will be Thursday, Nov. 2.
Last season, Orange lost to Bergenfield, 27-20, in the regional consolation semifinals to finish with a 4-5 overall record.
Orange (6-2)
- Aug. 26: win, at Wayne Hills, 42-6
- Sept. 1: win, at Paterson Kennedy, 52-0
- Sept. 8: loss, at Bayonne, 34-21
- Sept. 15: win, vs. West Side, 40-0
- Sept. 22: win, at Barringer, 50-37
- Sept. 28: win, at Millburn, 30-14
- Oct. 14: win, vs. Dickinson, forfeit.*
- Oct. 21: loss, at Lincoln, 74-32
*Dickinson did not have enough players.
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