NEW PROVIDENCE- Sure, there were the creative pass plays that led to a pair of touchdowns, and that’s a tribute to the innovative offensive game plan that Cedar Grove coach Rob Gogerty and his staff continue to produce on a regular basis.
But, beyond the impressive play-calling and superb execution was the fact that the pure athleticism of the fourth-seeded Panthers came to the forefront in terms of both speed and physicality to produce an impressive 37-13 win over the third-seeded and previously-undefeated New Providence Pioneers as the Essex County team captured its second straight North 2, Group 1 sectional playoff championship and 10th in program history before a large crowd on a very chilly mid-November Friday night at Lieder Field.
Cedar Grove (9-3), which also defeated New Providence, 35-14, in last year’s N2G! final, now moves into the Group 1 semifinals vs. N1G1 champion Butler (12-0) next Friday night (Nov. 21) at Memorial Field up Route 23 in Bulldog country. Butler defeated Kinnelon, 28-14, to win its sectional title for a second straight season.
Cedar Grove defeated Butler, 52-21, in last season’s Group 1 semifinals.
The Panthers made sure to start quickly out of the gates Friday night at New Providence (10-1) in contrast to the previous week’s 22-15 victory at Mountain Lakes when they were shut out for three quarters before mounting a 22-point explosion in the fourth quarter to earn the dramatic win over the Herd.
Cedar Grove built a 16-0 lead with senior running back Thomas Cantarelli’s 6-yard touchdown run to cap a quick 5-play, 47-yard drive with 8:37 left in the second quarter which was enhanced by a key 25-yard completion from quarterback Pierce Asfalg to tight end Michael Cantarelli.
It was Cantarelli who had begun the night’s scoring with a 16-yard TD option pass to Cannataro with 6:37 remaining in the first quarter on Cedar Grove’s initial drive of the night. Much later in the game, the Panthers were putting the final touches on an impressive victory with what is always an eye-catching double-pass as Asfalg lateraled the ball back to Cantarelli, who then tossed a 16-yard TD aerial to the QB with just 3:42 remaining in the fourth quarter to put an exclamation point on the evening.
“I think being an athletic team is something that we hold our hat on,” said Gogerty. “We kind of ‘out-athlete other teams and I think both our physicality and our size and speed kind of goes unnoticed at times.
“I’m proud of our guys. I thought we had a great game plan and we executed right off the bat which was a big thing after our slow start last week.
“We had a quick stop and went right down the field and scored which I thought eased everyone and let our game plan go to work.”
Cannataro, who excels as the feature running back and also as a tough-nosed inside linebacker, would finish the contest with 11 carries for 90 yards and 3 TDs.
“I thought we definitely showed our athleticism out there tonight,” said the impressive 2-way senior standout. “Once we get guys into space that’s how we get it going.”
Also in the formula was the Panthers’ physicality, including their defensive tenaciousness that saw sacks from D-lineman Evan Skabich, linebacker Cantarelli and DB George Dakar, which made life difficult most of the evening for New Providence QB Kevin Reilly as the Pioneers never really got their offense in full gear.
