Newton, Vernon lead their divisions
SUSSEX COUNTY. Sparta and High Point post their first wins of the season and more in this high school football roundup.
Newton /
| 02 Oct 2023 | 07:22
SP1 After catching the ball, Jefferson wide receiver Jeffrey Evans tries to break away from a Sparta defender. Evans caught a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. (Photos by George Leroy Hunter)
SP2 Sparta ball carrier Jonathan Calderon rushed for 168 yards and scored one touchdown Friday, Sept. 29.
Jefferson quarterback Ryan Moran throws the ball. He threw one touchdown pass during the game, which Jefferson lost, 20-13.
Sparta's Josh Brancy looks toward the camera after catching the ball. He scored two touchdowns in the game against Jefferson.
The Jefferson Falcons and the Sparta Spartans are set for a play.
Sparta High School head football coach Frank Marchiano
Jefferson Township High School head football coach Jim Matsakis
Newton remains at the top of the American Blue division of the SFC with a 4-1 record.
The Braves defeated Lenape Valley, 34-7, on Friday, Sept. 29.
Lenape Valley, with a 3-3 record, is second in the division.
Seniors Dylan Cotter and DeMarius Posey each made two touchdowns for Newton and sophomore Nick Kurilko made one. Kurilko also kicked four points after touchdowns.
Senior Ryan Stricchiola put the only points on the board for the Patriots, along with senior Mason McClean, who kicked the point after touchdown.
Cotter rushed for a total of 151 yards and Posey for 133.
Vernon beats Lakeland
Vernon leads the American White division with a 5-1 record after defeated Lakeland, 27-6, on Friday.
Lakeland fell to second place in the division with a 4-2 record. Jefferson and West Milford are tied for third place in the American White division with 3-3 overall records.
Senior Logan Pych made four touchdowns for the Vikings and rushed for a total of 337 yards.
Junior Luca Vizzini kicked three points after touchdowns.
Sean Walker was the lone scorer for Lakeland.
Shutout by Sussex Tech
Sussex Tech shut out Hackettstown, 41-0, on Friday. Its overall record is 4-2 but 1-2 against division opponents.
Hackettstown is 0-3 in the division and 1-5 overall.
Senior Andrew Baker and junior quarterback Brian Gruber each scored twice for the Mustangs and senior Will White and junior Zach Doyle each added touchdowns.
Gruber kicked four points after touchdowns, of six attempts, and rushed for a total of 109 yards.
Senior Samuel Fara added two points after one touchdown.
Sparta’s first win
Sparta posted its first win of the season, defeating Jefferson, 20-13, there on Friday.
Senior running back Jon Calderon posted the Spartans’ first points in the first quarter.
Senior wide receiver Josh Brancy added touchdowns on passes from sophomore quarterback Shane Hoover in the first and third quarters.
Jefferson quarterback Ryan Moran threw a touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jeffrey Evans, and sophomore Jason Post scored a rushing touchdown.
Calderon rushed for a total of 168 yards, and Hoover completed 13 of 26 pass attempts for a total of 158 yards.
Wallkill Valley loses
Wallkill Valley lost to Whippany Park, 18-7, on Friday.
Its overall record is 2-4 and 1-1 against division opponents.
Junior quarterback Zach Clarken posted the only points for the Rangers in the third quarter.
Senior Andrew Deehan made both touchdowns for the Wildcats after the team scored a safety in the first quarter.
High Point’s first win
High Point also had its first win of the season Friday, when it defeated Kittatinny, 13-7. Both teams have 1-4 records.
Junior John Elko and sophomore Slade Muller made touchdowns for the Wildcats in the first and second quarters, respectively.
Senior Jacob Savage scored for the Cougars in the third. He rushed for a total of 61 yards in the game.
Pope John wins again
Pope John leads the United White division with an overall record of 5-1.
The Lions handed Immaculata High School of Somerville its first loss of the season, 45-6, there on Friday.
After Joe Fleming made the Spartans’ only touchdown of the game in the first quarter, Pope John’s senior quarterback Chris Dietrich made a touchdown and senior Jack Morgese kicked a 32-yard field goal in the second quarter.
Junior Wes Johnston and sophomore Prince Joshua each scored in the third quarter and junior Tylik Hill made three touchdowns.
Three of the Lions’ scores were on passes from Dietrich, and Hill rushed for a total of 223 yards in the game.
This week’s match-ups:
• Vernon plays at West Milford at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6.
• Newton plays Hackettstown at home at 7 p.m. Friday.
• Sussex Tech plays Kittatinny at home at 7 p.m. Friday.
• Sparta plays Mount Olive at home at 7 p.m. Friday.
• High Point plays at North Warren at 7 p.m. Friday.
• Jefferson plays Lakeland at home at 7 p.m. Friday.
• Pope John plays Delbarton at home at noon Saturday, Oct. 7.
• Lenape Valley plays at Wallkill Valley at 2 p.m. Saturday.