Par Hills hammers Teaneck - On to the State Finals

[Tom]

I'm so proud of my son and his Team-mates..............

 

Iron Hills Conference Champions 2005 & 2006

 

Gerardi passes for 4 TDs as Par Hills soars, 38-20

Sunday, November 19, 2006

BY SEAN REILLY

For the Star-Ledger

Mike Gerardi threw touchdown passes to four different receivers and Parsippany Hills pulled away with a big fourth quarter to defeat Teaneck, 38-20, in the semifinals of the NJSIAA/Gatorade North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 playoffs last night in Teaneck.

Parsippany Hills (10-1) never trailed in defeating Teaneck (8-2), No. 13 in The Star-Ledger Top 20. Parsippany Hills earned a rematch with No. 3 Wayne Hills in the sectional final in two weeks. Wayne Hills beat Parsippany Hills, in the final last season at Giants Stadium.

Gerardi, a senior, connected on 16 of 27 passes for 163 yards to five different receivers. He was effective from the start in leading his team on a six-play, 73-yard scoring drive on its first possession. The drive was capped by a 9-yard TD pass to Bill Magill with 8:02 left in the first quarter.

The drive, which began after the Parsippany Hills defense held Teaneck to a three-and-out opening series, included first-down gains on four consecutive plays leading up to the TD.

"We got up and stayed up," Gerardi said. "We basically controlled the tempo with a lot of big plays. A lot of different people stepped up. Our line play was unbelievable and we were able to run, which helped open up our passing game."

Parsippany Hills was able to withstand the rushing efforts of Teaneck's fine junior back, Rashad White (29 carries, 205 yards). White tied it for Teaneck at 7-7 with a 5-yard TD run with 11:06 left in the first half, but Parsippany Hills was able to end the half with a 14-7 lead after Gerardi found Tom Tran (four catches, 81 yards, two interceptions) for a 29-yard TD at the 4:10 mark.

Teaneck then drove to the Parsippany Hills 3-yard line, where it was faced with a fourth-and-goal with 1:19 to go in the half. But White was stopped inches shy of the goal line by the Parsippany Hills line.

Parsippany Hills, which lost Magill, its leading receiver and a key defensive back, to a knee injury late in the second quarter, overcame his absence with the help of Anthony Rossi, who made four catches for 51 yards, all in the second half, including a 7-yard TD catch from Gerardi at the 6:52 mark of the third quarter for a 21-7 lead.

After Teaneck pulled to within 21-13 following a 4-yard TD run by Tony Smith in the final minute of the third, Parsippany Hills pulled away with a 17-point fourth quarter.

The surge started with a 24-yard field goal by Vin Ablahani, the first of his career, with 7:48 to go, followed by a 12-yard TD pass from Gerardi to Brian Olsen at the 6:24 mark to make it 31-13. Olsen finished with a season-high four catches totaling 32 yards.

After a 76-yard TD run by Teaneck quarterback Travis Warren 23 seconds after Olsen's TD, Rossi capped the scoring with a 25-yard interception return with 1:57 to go.

Parsippany Hills (10-1) 77717 -- 38 Teaneck (8-2) 0767 -- 20P: Magill 9 pass from Gerardi (Ablahani kick)

T: White 5 run (Nagrin kick)

P: Tran 29 pass from Gerardi (Ablahani kick)

P: Rossi 7 pass from Gerardi (Ablahani kick)

T: Smith 4 run (run failed)

P: FG Ablahani 24

P: Olsen 12 pass from Gerardi (Ablahani kick)

T: Warren 76 run (Negrin kick)

P: Rossi 25 interception return (Ablahani kick)

 

 

Par Hills hammers Teaneck

Section 1, Group III

Par Hills 38, Teaneck 20

Mike Gerardi threw four touchdown passes to lead Parsippany Hills to a 38-20 victory over Teaneck on Saturday night. The Vikings gained a berth in the state championship, where they will play Wayne Hills.

Gerardi hit Anthony Rossi from six yards out with 6:48 left in the third quarter to give the Vikings a 21-7 lead over Teaneck. The senior quarterback has three touchdowns on the day, hitting Bill Magill for Par Hills' first score before a 27-yard scoring throw to Tom Tran in the second quarter.

Teaneck found the scoreboard again at the end of the third quarter to pull within eight, 21-13. However, with 7:44 left in the game, Vin Ablahani nailed a 26-yard field goal to give Par Hills a 24-13 edge with 7:44 to play.

At 6:14, the Vikings padded their lead when Gerardi found Brian Olsen for a 12-yard score to make it 31-13 with 6:14 to play.

Rossi stepped up again with 1:57 to play, nabbing an interception and returning it for 25 yards to make it 38-20.