The Cliffside Park/Ridgefield Raiders(8-0) overwhelmed the Fair Lawn Cutters(6-2) 56-35 in the Ivy League Playoff Semifinals at Willis Field in Ridgefield, New Jersey.
Cliffside Park/Ridgefield came out blazing out of the gates. After receiving the opening kickoff, the Raiders struck first on the game’s third play, with quarterback Jason Marasciulo connecting on a 55-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Chris Gregory.
However, Fair Lawn answered back with a lengthy 11-play 75-yard drive that ate up almost six minutes of the clock and culminated in a three-yard touchdown run by quarterback Ty Christianson, which tied the game at 7-7.
The back-and-forth action ensued. On the following Cliffside Park/Ridgefield Raiders drive, Jason Marasciulo tossed a pass to running back Eddie Schaefer. Schaefer broke into the clear and scampered to the end zone for the 66-yard score, which put the Raiders back in front 14-7 with three minutes left.
In the second quarter, Cliffside Park/Ridgefield extended the lead to 21-7 on a 23-yard touchdown run by Jason Marasciulo. Once again, the Cutters displayed a ton of resiliency as Ty Christianson plowed into the end zone for a two-yard score that made it 21-14 with six minutes remaining.
The Raiders ignited an immediate rebuttal. It took just four plays to tally points, as Jason Marasciulo connected for a second time with Chris Gregory, a 63-yard bomb that widened the margin to 28-14.
Fair Lawn shook off the cobwebs and drove deep into Cliffside Park/Ridgefield territory. Still, one pass from Ty Christianson got away from him and into the hands of Raiders defensive back Mike Caban for the interception.
The turnover proved costly as the Cliffside Park/Ridgefield offense quickly advanced the ball into the Cutters’ end of the field. On second down at the 41-yard line, Jason Marasciulo fired a pass down the middle of the seam to tight end Muhammad El Hindi, and El Hindi darted into the end zone for the touchdown to expand the advantage to 35-14.
In the third quarter, the Raiders defense forced a quick three-and-out. The Cliffside Park/Ridgefield offense benefitted from a short punt that placed the ball near midfield. Chris Gregory showcased his running skills as he took a handoff and sprinted to the end zone for the 28-yard score, stretching the lead to 42-14 with four and a half minutes to go.
Fair Lawn refused to throw in the towel as TY Christianson signed a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Edward Guy. The Raiders flexed their muscles on the ensuing offensive possession as Chris Gregory tallied his second rushing score, this time from 13 yards out to increase the lead to 49-21.
In the fourth quarter, the Cutters closed the gap to 49-28 as Ty Christianson hooked up with Edward Guy for a second time in the game on an electrifying 73-yard touchdown pass.
Cliffside Park/Ridgefield countered with a thrilling response. Mike Caban took the handoff and rumbled 60 yards to the house, and the Raiders’ lead swelled to 56-28.
Fair Lawn did not go down without a fight. Ty Christianson found his main target, Edward Guy, for a trifecta. He lofted a 35-yard touchdown strike that made it 56-35, but that would be as close as the Cutters would get. Cliffside Park/Ridgefield prevailed 56-35.