The Panthers induced three turnovers with the initial one being the most painful for the home team in what was a 6-0 game at the time as RB Mike Petses was induced to fumble the ball after a 59-yard run and Panthers LB Jerry Targia recovered the ball at his won 16-yard line with 5:47 remaining in the first quarter.

Cedar Grove proceeded to mount a solid 13-play, 84-yard drive that was capped by Sebastian Kovacs’ 23-yard field goal for a 9-0 lead with 11:54 remaining in the second quarter.

Kovacs, one of the state’s top kickers, was a crucial contributor on special teams throughout the contest with his booming kickoffs which resulted in five touchbacks as the New Providence offense had to start out each time from its own 20-yard line.

And, that field position advantage throughout much of the contest enhanced the ability of the Cedar Grove offense to strike quickly, as was the case after a quick 3-and-out following the Kovacs field goal as the Panthers were well situated in Pioneer territory at the 47 yard line after a New Providence punt and Cannataro then capped the efficient 5-play drive with his second TD of the first half and provide some nice breathing space at the time with a 16-0 lead.

New Providence cut into that Panthers advantage, pulling to within 16-6 when Reilly connected with Daniel Porretti on a 12-yard TD pass with 27 seconds left in the second quarter that capped a quick 80-yard advance which moved into the red zone with a 15-yard penalty assessed against the Panthers moving the ball into the red zone at the Cedar Grove 14.

The Pioneers pulled to within 16-13 with 2:23 left in the third quarter following an interception by D-lineman James Keneally, who made his pick at the Cedar Grove 40 and returned the ball to the 17. Three plays later RB Jack Fitzgerald scored on a 2-yard TD run.

It was time for the quick-strike ability and athleticism to rise to the top once again for Cedar Grove which answered back quickly on the third play of its ensuing drive when Asfalg connected with wide receiver Xavier Andujar on a 70-yard TD pass play to help the Panthers regain some breathing room, 23-13, with 56 seconds left in the third quarter.

That lead built to an insurmountable 30-13 with 6:41 left in the fourth quarter on Cannataro’s third TD of the night, a 46-yard dash to pay dirt with 6:49 remaining.

Momentum, which had been lost for a few minutes bridging the end of the second, and then through part of the third quarters, was clearly regained by a Panthers team that just keeps coming at you on both sides of the ball.

“We let them come back a little bit with that touchdown toward the end of the second quarter, but we talked at halftime about regardless of what had happened, we would just have to finish the game strong,” said Cannataro. “That’s where good coaching and good players continue to come on strong, and we showed our athletes and playmakers when it mattered most, and that’s what Cedar Grove football is all about.”

NOTES- Asfalg finished with very efficient (13-of-17) pass completion numbers with 187 yards and a TD while also adding 15 carries for 68 yards…Fitzgerald led New Providence ground game with 12 carries for 70 yards. Petses had 5 carries for 66 yards. QB Reilly was 10-of-18 for 119 yards and a TD…Cantarelli had 4 receptions for 57 yards and WR Michael Ruggiano, who was also quite effective once again, had 5 receptions for 51 yards…The Pioneers’ Porretti had 5 catches for 71 yards…Defending Group 1 state champion Glassboro (12-0) won the South Jersey sectional title Friday night with a 47-14 triumph over Shalick and will meet Burlington City in next weekend’s other Group 1 semifinal. Burlington City defeated Shore Regional, 28-20, in the Central Jersey, Group 1 final.

North 2, Group 1 final:
(4) CEDAR GROVE (9-3)              6     10      7    14  - 37
(3) NEW PROVIDENCE (10-1)    0       6      7      0   -13
CG- Thomas Cannataro 16 pass from Michael Cantarelli (run failed)
CG- Sebastian Kovacs 23 FG
CG- Cannataro 6 run (Kovacs kick)
NP- Daniel Porretti 12 pass from Kevin Reilly (run failed)
NP- Jack Fitzgerald 2 run (Fitzgerald kick)
CG- Xavier Andujar 70 pass from Pierce Asfalg (Kovacs kick)
CG- Cannataro 46 run (Kovacs kick)
CG- Afalg 16 pass from Cantarelli (Kovacs kick)

Group 1 Sectional Finals:
North 2: Cedar Grove 37 New Providence 13
North 1: Butler 28 Kinnelon 14
Central: Burlington City 28 Shore Regional 20
South: Glassboro 47 Shalick 14

Group 1 Semifinals, Friday night, Nov. 21:
Cedar Grove at Butler
Burlington City at Glassboro

Group 1 state final, either Friday, Nov. 28, or Wednesday, Dec. 3