By Josh Baker
Correspondent
WEST ORANGE, NJ (corrected Friday Nov. 2, 10:47 a.m.) – On Friday night, October 27, the West Orange High School varsity football Mountaineers tied with the Livingston Lancers, 21-21, in the Mountaineers’ regular season home finale. WOHS moved to a 3-4-1 record.
Jordan White scored three TDs for the Mountaineers.
After coming off a heavy loss against Montclair the previous week, WOHS was determined to end the home season on a high note.
The game started off slow and scoreless for the entire first quarter, with the exceptional highlight of WOHS intercepting a pass at the Livingston 35-yard line two minutes in. The teams did not score until six minutes into the second quarter when White scored on a 6-yard pass from Vincent DeSanti for a 7-0 lead.
Six minutes into the third quarter, Livingston got on the board with a touchdown from the one after recovering a WO fumble. WO senior slotback CJ Wilson had a 68-yard run that set up White’s 1-yard TD run, giving the Mountaineers a 14-7 lead with 49 seconds to go in the third quarter.
Two minutes into the fourth quarter, Livingston intercepted a pass from senior starting quarterback Vincent DeSantis at the Livingston 35, and eventually scored another touchdown, tying the game at 14-14. With one second to go, Livingston attempted a field goal for the win, but WOHS blocked it, forcing overtime.
“I don’t think tensions on the sidelines were that bad because we felt we would end up winning in the end,” said WOHS coach Jim Matsakis.
In overtime, Livingston would get the ball first, and made it all the way to the 5-yard line. But on fourth down, a holding penalty on WOHS would give Livingston an automatic first down, allowing them to score and take a 21-14 lead. WOHS answered with White’s 4-yard touchdown, tying the game again at 21-21. The second and third overtimes went scoreless and the game ended in a tie by rule.
“High school rules are, during regular season, the game ends a tie after the third overtime period, much like soccer not using penalty kicks until postseason,” said Matsakis, who also confirmed that none of the team’s departing seniors, such as DeSantis, are going to college on football scholarships this year.
“My favorite home game was my freshman year when we kicked a field goal with three seconds left against West Essex, and this year our second-half performance when we broke free against them,” said DeSantis.
WOHS’ next game is at East Orange on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m.
Box score vs. Livingston
- 2nd Q: West Orange: Jordan White 6 pass from Vincent DeSantis (Bryan Reitberger kick)
- 3rd Q: Livingston: Jack Ernst 1 run (kick)
- 3rd Q: West Orange: Jordan White 1 run (Bryan Reitberger kick)
- 4th Q: Livingston: Tyrell Garnes 10 pass from Jack Ernst (kick)
- 1st OT: Livingston: Jack Ernst 2 run (kick)
- 1st OT: West Orange: Jordan White 4 run (Bryan Reitberger kick)
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