WEST ORANGE – The West Orange High School varsity football team continued its impressive turnaround this weekend.
Senior running back Michael Osusji rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries and senior linebacker and Rutgers University commit C.J. Onyechi posted 16 tackles, including four for loss, with three sacks, two caused fumbles and three pass breakups to lead the Mountaineers to their fourth straight win, 35-12, over Livingston on Saturday, Oct. 29, at Livingston in a North Jersey Super Football Conference-Liberty Blue Division game.
The Mountaineers, who were 0-2 and 1-3 to start the season, now have a 5-3 overall record.
WOHS also is in first place in the Liberty Blue Division at 4-1, while Bloomfield (6-1) and Montclair (4-3) are tied for second at 3-1.
The Mountaineers, under fourth-year head coach Jim Matsakis, are in seventh place in the state North Jersey Section 1, Group 5 power-points standings with 100 points. The top eight teams in the power-points standings through the first eight games earn playoff berths. The Mountaineers are hoping to make the postseason for the first time since 2013.
In the win over Livingston, Osuji broke a scoreless tie in the second quarter with a one-yard touchdown run, followed by senior Ryan Carraha’s extra point, for a 7-0 lead.
Livingston answered with a touchdown run to cut it to 7-6. The extra point kick failed.
Osuji ran for an 8-yard touchdown and Carraha kicked the extra point to make it 14-6 later in the second quarter.
Nate Ferguson returned a fumble 21 yards for a touchdown and Carraha added the extra point to extend the lead to 21-6 at the half.
Osuji scored on an eight-yard run and Carraha kicked the extra point to make it 28-6 in the third quarter. Frank DeAngelis had a two-yard touchdown run, followed by Carraha’s extra point, to increase the lead to 28-6 in the third quarter. Livingston scored on a pass play at the end of the third quarter for the final score.
The Mountaineers will host East Orange Campus (5-2) on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. East Orange Campus brings a two-game winning streak.
West Orange (5-3)
Sept. 9, Loss, Union City, 20-0
Sept. 16, Loss, at Irvington, 22-3
Sept. 23, Won, Columbia, 36-7
Sept. 30, Loss, at Bloomfield, 29-7
Oct. 8, Won, at Morristown, 42-14
Oct. 14, Won, Barringer, 47-14
Oct. 22, Won, at Montclair, 29-26
Oct. 29, Won, at Livingston, 35-12
Nov. 5, East Orange Campus, 7 p.m.
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