Summit Has To Be Road Warrior
While Heading Into N1G4 Playoff

SUMMIT - If Summit has designs on capturing North 1, Group 4 for the first time, the Hilltoppers will need to do so on the road.

It's a daunting task for the Hilltoppers considering they have not won a road playoff game since winning at top-seeded Mendham, 26-8, to repeat as the North 2, Group 2 champions in 1994.

Yes, it's been 32 years since Summit won a road playoff game. Since then, the Hilltoppers have lost nine straight road playoff games, including at West Morris in 2025, at Cranford in 2024, at West Morris in 2021, at Newark West Side in 2019, at Middletown North in 2016, at Colonia in 2015, at Gov. Livingston in 2008, at West Essex in 2001 and at Pequannock in 2000.

Following a solid 6-3 regular season, which included Summit's four-game winning streak coming to an end Saturday, Oct. 24 at Tatlock Field when Bernards came back in the second half to top the Hilltoppers 34-27, Summit is the sixth seed and will visit third-seeded Morris Knolls in the first round of the North 1, Group 4 playoffs on Friday night, Oct. 30.

Bernards (7-2), winners of seven straight and one of the state’s most successful public-school programs during the last decade-plus under the direction of longtime coach Jon Simoneau, is the No. 3 seed in North 2, Group 2, and will host sixth-seeded Hanover Park in its first-round playoff game also on Friday night.

"We'll have to go on the road and prepare as best as we can," said Summit head coach Kevin Kostibos, who has guided the Hilltoppers to North 2, Group 3 sectional state championships in both 2013, his first year at the helm, and in 2018.

Summit has never won North 1, Group 4.

Summit has won nine sectional state championships in the playoff era, winning North 2, Group 3 in 1976, 1980, 2012, 2013 and 2018 and North 2, Group 2 in 1988, 1993, 1994 and 2009.

Although Summit lost a close game to Bernards for the third straight season and second in a row at Tatlock Field, the Hilltoppers did manage to score six touchdowns against the visiting Mountaineers. However, only four of them counted because two were called back because of Summit penalties. Summit did not end up scoring on both of those possessions.

Summit had another touchdown called back but did eventually score a touchdown on that possession.

One of the touchdowns Summit had called back on a drive when the Hilltoppers did not eventually score was on a tipped pass. Summit argued vehemently, but to no avail. Bernards came up with its only interception on the next play, which led to its first score.

Summit led 20-14 at the half but was outscored 20-7 in the second half as Bernards won for the seventh straight time to improve to 7-2.

"The second half came down to three or four plays, and they made all of them," Kostibos said. "They were the better team."

Summit also fell to Bernards 17-14 at home in 2025 and 29-23 at Bernards in 2024.

If Summit defeats Morris Knolls to advance to the semifinals, the Hilltoppers will next play at second-seeded Northern Highlands or host seventh-seeded Woodbridge. Summit defeated Woodbridge 42-21 at home on Oct. 8.
    
Summit First Half TDs Called Back Vs. Bernards:

Second possession: Matt McKeever 43 pass to Will Heil. Hilltoppers penalized for ineligible man down field.
The pass was tipped.
Summit did not score on this possession.

Third possession: Matt McKeever 32 run up the middle untouched. Hilltoppers were penalized for holding.
Summit still scored on this possession when McKeever reached the end zone on a 13-yard run.

Fifth possession: Matt McKeever 58 pass to Will Heil over the middle, with Heil running untouched into the end zone.
Summit was penalized for illegal man down field.
Summit did not score on this possession. 

JT Zobel & LUCAS Kubeck Made Big Plays For Hilltoppers

In the first half, JT Zobel made several outstanding plays for Summit, while teammate Lucas Kubeck came up with a big interception for the Hilltoppers at the beginning of the second half.

Zobel halted Bernards' third possession when he jumped up to intercept a Walsh pass at the Summit 24. During Bernards' fifth possession, Zobel tackled Walsh for a six-yard loss and then two plays later batted a pass away.

Kubeck prevented Bernards from scoring on its first possession of the second half when he jumped up against single coverage and came down with an interception in the right corner of the end zone.

BIG CENTRAL CONFERENCE-CROSSOVER:
BERNARDS (7-2)                                   07          07          13          07 - 34
SUMMIT (6-3)                                        06          14          00          07 - 27

FIRST QUARTER:
Summit - Matt McKeever 50 run, kick failed-wide right (S 6-0)
2 plays, 65 yards, 1:12 used
Bernards - Zach Favreau 43 pass from Nolan Walsh, Daniel Nagy-Lewis kick (B 7-6)
2 plays, 68 yards, :41 used
Bernards capitalized on a turnover - an interception by Zach Favreau.

SECOND QUARTER:
Summit - Matt McKeever 13 run, Jackson Marx kick (S 13-7)
9 plays, 70 yards, 4:30 used
Bernards - Zach Favreau 21 pass from Nolan Walsh, Daniel Nagy-Lewis kick (B 14-13)
3 plays, 61 yards, :45 used
Summit - Colton Post fumble recovery in end zone, Daniel Nagy-Lewis kick (Summit 20-14)
7 plays, 60 yards, 3:43 used
Matt McKeever rushed seven yards to the one, fumbled the ball and then Colton Post fell on it in the end zone for Summit's third touchdown. That was the third and final Hilltopper lead, coming with just 42 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

THIRD QUARTER:
Bernards - Sean Arcelay 17 run, Daniel Nagy-Lewis kick (B 21-20)
3 plays, 35 yards, :39 used
Bernards - Nolan Walsh 9 run, run failed (B 27-20)
6 plays, 68 yards, 2:01 used
Bernards originally lined up to kick an extra point but then decided to go for two in an attempt to go up by nine points and two possessions. However, on a quarterback-keeper, Nolan Walsh was stopped up the middle by several Summit tacklers, far short of the goal line.

FOURTH QUARTER:
Summit - Gavin Schnall 2 run, Jackson Marx kick (27-27)
8 plays, 80 yards, 3:44 used
Bernards - Nolan Walsh 8 run, Daniel Nagy-Lewis kick (B 34-27)
10 plays, 50 yards, 4:41 used
Summit then reached the Bernards 35-yard line before losing a fumble with less than a minute remaining. Bernards then took a knee to close the comeback victory.

2026 NORTH 1, GROUP 4 PLAYOFFS

Friday, Oct. 30
First round
8-Carteret (4-5) at 1-Roxbury (7-2)
5-Ridge (5-3) at 4-Middletown South (5-3)
6-Summit (6-3) at 3-Morris Knolls (7-2)
7-Woodbridge (5-4) at 2-Northern Highlands (5-3)

Friday, Nov. 6 or Saturday, Nov. 7
Semifinals
At higher seed

Friday, Nov. 13 or Saturday, Nov. 14
Final
At higher seed