River Dell Golden Hawks varsity football team wraps up the 2023 season on a high note with a 34-27 road win at Teaneck

The River Dell Golden Hawks varsity football team(3-8) wrapped up the 2023 season, facing off against the Teaneck Highwaymen(7-3) at Teaneck High School in Teaneck, New Jersey.

River Dell was coming off a 34-17 loss to Mendham in the North Group 3 Regional Consolation Final Round at West Morris Mendham High School in Mendham, New Jersey.

Right off the bat, the River Dell defense rose to the occasion as the Highwaymen drove deep into Golden Hawks' end of the field. However, River Dell dug a line in the sand as junior defensive back Dean Marucci sacked Teaneck quarterback Rhys Lugo on fourth down.

The Golden Hawks caught a massive break in the first quarter on a botched snap, with Teaneck punting the ball away deep in their end of the field.

River Dell got the ball at the Teaneck 19-yard line. After back-to-back running plays by sophomore quarterback Zion Yoon and junior wide receiver RJ Weiss, senior quarterback Phil Doornheim took the direct snap and plowed straight ahead into the end zone for the one-yard score.

Early in the second quarter, the Highwaymen responded on an 8-yard touchdown run by running back Adriel Perez. The lead would be short-lived as the Golden Hawks answered back in lightning fashion in five plays and 65 yards, capped off by a 14-yard touchdown run from Zion Yoon.

Teaneck countered that response by River Dell with a time-consuming drive that lasted nearly seven minutes. The Highwaymen utilized the running and passing game to carve out chunks of yardage to move into Golden Hawks territory.

Running back Adriel Perez made his presence known again, barreling in for a five-yard score that finished an impressive 13-play drive. Teaneck opted for the two-point conversion, with Perez bulldozing straight ahead into the end zone to put the Highwaymen up for the first time in the game, 15-14.

With less than two minutes remaining in the first half, Zion Yoon completed a pass to wide receiver RJ Weiss, then Weiss shook off a couple of defensive players and rumbled down to the Teaneck 15-yard-line.

River Dell advanced the ball inside the ten-yard line, then Zion Yoon took the direct snap and powered his way into the end zone for the seven-yard score combined with senior kicker Owen Windram's extra point put the Golden Hawks ahead 21-15 at halftime.

Once the third quarter finished, the Highwaymen needed one play to tie the game at 21-21. Running back Isaac Combs, 3rd, took the handoff, muscled his way past a couple of defensive players, and broke free for an 84-yard highlight-reel touchdown. Teaneck decided again to go for the two-point conversion, but running back Adriel Perez was stopped short of the goal line on a solid tackle by Dean Marucci.

The Golden Hawks were able to regain their composure on the ensuing drive. Sophomore kick returner Cain Lanza returned the kickoff to almost near midfield, which paid off dividends. River Dell managed to push the ball swiftly into Highwaymen's territory behind a rigorous running game.

Senior Nick Kelly gained 20 yards in a run to make it first and goal at the nine-yard line. On the next play, Zion Yoon pitched the ball to RJ Weiss, and Weiss steamrolled into the end zone for the score as the Golden Hawks went back in front 28-21.

Teaneck got the ball back at their 32-yard line with two and a half minutes left in the third quarter. When the fourth quarter commenced, the Highwaymen were at River Dell's end of the field. A key fourth-down conversion kept the drive alive for Teaneck.

The Highwaymen faced another critical fourth down play at the Golden Hawks nine-yard line. Teaneck went back to their bread and butter in Adriel Perez as he took the handoff and sped quickly into the end zone for the three-yard touchdown that completed an impressive 13-yard, 68-yad drive lasting 6:51. To no one's surprise, the Highwaymen elected for the two-point conversion, but a dropped pass kept River Dell in the lead 28-27.

The Golden Hawks were backed up deep in their end due to a holding penalty on the kickoff return. That presented no problem as River Dell went to a pound-and-ground strategy with the running game. Facing a couple of key third down plays, Zion Yoon completed a pair of passes, including a 24-yard pass to RJ Weiss that advanced the ball to the Teaneck 24-yard line.

On third down and six at the 23-yard line, Zion Yoon took the snap, then dropped back in the pocket and lofted a pass to a wide-open wide receiver in junior Ryan Rossig in stride for the touchdown with one minute remaining.

Teaneck had one more opportunity to tie the game up but went up in smoke as Highwaymen quarterback Rhys Lugo attempted to heave a deep pass. However, River Dell defensive back Dean Marucci skied high to haul in the interception, thus cementing the Golden Hawks' 34-27 victory.