Soph. Jamarius Lawson (35), sr. Calvin Nuoso (54), sr. Chris Henderson (79)
WEST ORANGE, NJ — Junior quarterback Mason Murdock passed for 208 yards and two touchdowns to lead the fourth-seeded West Orange High School football team to an emphatic 30-18 win over fifth-seeded and defending champion Piscataway in the first round of the North Jersey Section 2, Group 5 state playoffs on Friday night, Nov. 8, at WOHS’ Joe Suriano Stadium.
The Mountaineers, under first-year head coach Darnell Grant, improved to a 7-3 record and will visit top-seeded and undefeated Union in the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m.
Sophomore Mahki Green caught a TD pass and returned a blocked punt for a score; and junior running back Shakhi Carson returned a kickoff for a touchdown; rushed for 53 yards on 12 carries and caught three passes for 77 yards.
The Mountaineers took a 9-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Murdock threw a 15-yard TD pass to junior Amiyn Hanks and senior Bryan Reitberger kicked a 30-yard field goal.
Piscataway scored two TDs in the second quarter. Carson had a 73-yard kickoff return for a score and Reitberger kicked the extra point as the Mountaineers led 16-12 at the half.
Murdock connected with Green on a 62-yard field goal in the third quarter, followed by Reitberger’s point-after kick, for a 23-12 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Green returned a blocked punt nine yards into the end zone and Reitberger kicked the extra point. Piscataway, which fell to 6-4, scored a TD in the fourth quarter.
Hanks had two catches for 45 yards and Green finished with two catches for 86 yards. Green also had two carries for 11 yards.
Union defeated eighth-seeded Paterson Kennedy, 35-0, Friday, Nov. 8, to improve to 10-0.
The other semifinal pits third-seeded Clifton (6-3) at second-seeded Ridge (8-1) on Friday, Nov. 15.
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