River Dell Golden Hawks varsity football team notches its first win of the 2023 regular-season in convincing fashion against Demarest

The River Dell Golden Hawks varsity football team(1-3) hit the road for the first time in the 2023 regular season. River Dell squared off against the Demarest Norsemen(1-4) on a mostly clear and cool night at Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest in Demarest, New Jersey.

River Dell was coming off a brutal 34-0 loss to the Westwood Cardinals the prior week at River Dell High School that dropped the Golden Hawks to 0-3.

In the aftermath of the defeat to Westwood, sophomore quarterback Zion Yoon said, "We practiced right after the Westwood game and just started off on the right foot." "We gained momentum throughout the week and were able to have a good week of practice and completely put the Westwood team behind us and put confidence in our teammates and coaches for the Demarest game."

The Golden Hawks came out with a renewed sense of purpose from the opening kickoff. On Demarest's first offensive possession, the River Dell defense started with a flourish, knocking the ball out on a running play and senior defensive lineman Connor Yeandle recovering the fumble.

The Golden Hawks offensive line paving the way for productive running plays by sophomore running back Cain Lanza and Zion Yoon to advance the ball inside the ten-yard line. On second and goal at the six-yard line, Yoon took the snap, dropped back in the pocket, and lobbed a pass to junior wide receiver RJ Weiss in the end zone, putting River Dell up 7-0. For the fourth time this season, Yoon and Weiss had connected.

"The defense really set the tone for us, once they got that turnover we had a high level of confidence," Zion Yoon explained. "We were able to put everything together on that play and knew the corner was going to bite and RJ and I are always on the same page when it comes to touchdown and big plays."

After the Golden Hawks defense forced a quick three and out on the next Norsemen offensive possession, Zion Yoon showcased his passing accuracy, heaving a 26-yard pass to senior wide receiver Nick Kelly, who made a spectacular diving catch on the play.

On 1st and ten at the Demarest 25, Zion Yoon took the snap, then dropped back in the pocket, rolled to his right, and fired a 25-yard touchdown strike to senior Phil Doornheim in stride that extended the River Dell advantage to 14-0 in the first quarter.

"Phil was a quarterback and he moved to wide receiver and still has that quarterback knowledge and knows what to do and see on every single play," Zion Yoon described. "I really enjoyed that touchdown pass to him."

Demarest got the ball back on the ensuing offensive possession at their 25-yard line with a little over five minutes remaining in the first quarter. The Norseman benefitted off one massive play as quarterback Liam Zelman completed a 47-yard pass to wide receiver Brandon Srebnik that moved the ball down to the Golden Hawks' 28-yard line.

Facing fourth down, Liam Zelman kept the drive alive on a quarterback keeper that pushed the ball to the ten-yard line. Early in the second quarter, Demarest scored points on the scoreboard as running back Reed Kauderer plowed through for the one-yard score. However, on the extra point attempt, River Dell defensive lineman Nick Berberian crashed through the line and blocked the kick.

The Golden Hawks defense continued to excel in the trenches by applying heavy pressure on a Demarest passing play that resulted in Liam Zelman flinging a pass up in the air deep inside Norseman territory that ended up in junior defensive lineman Youssef Ibrahim intercepting the ball.

On second and eighth at the 16-yard line, Zion Yoon took the snap, tucked the ball away on a fake handoff, and lofted a perfectly placed pass to RJ Weiss in the left corner of the end zone. "We were able to draw that play up and RJ and I were on the same page," Zion Yoon remarked.

River Dell elected to go for the two-point conversion. Zion Yoon took the snap, then pitched the ball to Phil Doornheim in the backfield, and Doornheim tossed a pass to junior Tyler Datz in the right corner of the end zone, expanding the Golden Hawk's margin to 22-6.

"We just drew that play up right there on the spot," Zion Yoon stated. "Phil(Doornheim) can throw the ball and Tyler(DFatz) made the catch and we were able to make that play happen."

Once again, Demarest answered with another long-sustained drive lasting five minutes. The Norsemen marched down the field in seven plays and 78 yards, capped off by Reed Kauderer taking the handoff from Zelman, bursting through a wide-open gap, and scampering 16 yards to the end zone.

Going for the two-point conversion again proved futile for Demarest as the River Dell defense smothered the running play. At halftime, the Golden Hawks took a 22-12 lead heading into the locker room.

River Dell received the second-half kickoff, with Chris Kelm displaying his speed by returning the ball to the 42-yard line. The Golden Hawks offense hummed on all cylinders as Zion Yoon completed a 28-yard pass to Weiss that placed the ball deep in the Norseman end of the field.

Zion Yoon gained 15 yards on a quarterback and kept moving the ball to the 13-yard line. On second and ten at the 12-yard line, Yoon took the snap, then dropped back in the pocket and slung a nifty 12-yard scoring pass to Tyler Datz that stretched out the River Dell lead to 29-12.

"Everything was coming together and Chris Kelm on special teams able to give us good field position," Zion Yoon noted. "The offense was able to capitalize off that and pass to Tyler(Datz) really capped it off."

Just when the Golden Hawks were on the verge of blowing the game wide-open, Demarest responded emphatically with a clock-eaten drive that amassed nine minutes, concluding in Liam Zelman scoring on a one-yard run.

The Norsemen did not hesitate in going for the two-point conversion, and Zelman took it upon himself to run the ball into the end zone, successfully trimming the River Dell lead down to 29-20.

The Golden Hawk's demeanor did not flinch when the offense got the ball back late in the third quarter. Despite a holding penalty negating a significant gain on a running play by Zion Yoon, a 12-yard pass from Yoon to Nick Kelly pushed the ball down to the Demarest 38-yard line.

In the fourth quarter, Zion Yoon relied on his speed again, taking the snap and sprinting 26 yards to the Norsemen 11-yard line. On third down at the 13-yard line, Yoon barreled straightforward as the offensive line's superior blocking provided a wide-open lane to race in for the touchdown increasing the River Dell lead to 35-20.

The Golden Hawk's defense drew a line in the sand as they forced a critical incomplete pass by Demarest quarterback Liam Zelman on fourth down in River Dell territory and turnover on downs.

River Dell's offense flashed its quick-strike ability on first down at the 40-yard line. Zion Yoon took the snap, then handed the ball off to Chris Kelm and the offensive line, paving the way for a clear running lane as Kelm shook off a couple of tacklers and darted down the left side of the field to the end zone that made it 42-20 with seven minutes remaining.

The Golden Hawks defense flexed its muscles on the Norsemen's next offensive possession. A harmless incomplete pass turned into a backward play as the Demarest wide receiver dropped the ball.

With numerous Golden Hawks defensive players yelling about what just transpired, junior defensive back Dean Marucci instinctively scooped the ball up and dashed down the right side of the field and hurtled into the end zone headfirst for the touchdown as teammates swarmed Marucci with congratulatory wishes that cemented the River Dell 49-20 victory and first win of the 2023 regular-season.

"It felt really good to get in the end zone and looked as though Demarest had a little momentum coming back in the second half," Dean Marucci said. "The entire defense especially stepped up and they put in the work and good to see it pay off especially the sophomores and juniors making plays."

River Dell returns to the gridiron this upcoming Friday, September 29th, when they face the Old Tappan Golden Knights at Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan in Old Tappan, New Jersey, with kickoff set for 6 p.m.

Old Tappan has won ten games in a row, including a 48-0 blowout over Bergenfield last weekend. The Golden Knights have outscored their opponents 159-26.

On the upcoming matchup against Old Tappan, Zion Yoon said, "We need a good week of practice, trust our coaches, and give everything we got." "We're not going to be scared and play different because were away and at another team's place."