There was a twinkle in Cedar Grove quarterback Pierce Asfalg’s eye that Rob Gogerty noticed in late October.
Asfalg, who earned the starting role this season, has thrown for over 2,000 yards this season. So, his presence has always been reliable in the backfield for the Panthers. But with a daunting road task, the team needed him to be at his best to qualify for the sectional final.
And they got the version they needed on Friday night.
Asfalg ran for the game-winning touchdown with 49 seconds left to rally fourth-seeded Cedar Grove past top-seeded Mountain Lakes, 22-15, in the NJSIAA/Xfinity North 2, Group 1 semifinals Friday night in Mountain Lakes.
Gogerty said his quarterback went through some highs and lows this season, but once he assured him that the starting role was his, Asfalg’s confidence seems to have surged.
“Pierce has grown up a lot over the last few weeks,” said Gogerty, whose team will be making its 15th sectional final appearance. “He has really taken his game to another level and carried us. This was his best game.”
The Panthers (8-3) will travel to third-seeded New Providence in a rematch of last season’s sectional final, which was won by Cedar Grove, 35-14. The Pioneers defeated second-seeded Hasbrouck Heights, 28-21, in the other semifinal to advance.
Cedar Grove’s decisive touchdown came shortly after Mountain Lakes crept ahead on an 18-yard touchdown pass by Lawson Fagan to Ty Plotts. Massimo Corvelli took the direct snap for the two-point conversion to give the Herd a 15-14 lead with 2:10 left in the game.
But Asfalg guided his squad on a five-play, 60-yard drive that was capped by his 10-yard touchdown run. He called his own number on the ensuing two-point jaunt to send the Cedar Grove sideline into a frenzy.
This was the third time in the game Asfalg attempted the fake toss and run. The initial two attempts were stonewalled by the Mountain Lakes defense, however once the senior saw right guard Evan Skabich create a lane, he knew the result would be different.
“I saw that wide, open gap and that gave me all the confidence I needed on that run,” Asfalg said. “Everyone thought we would lose this game, but we’ve really improved, and I knew with our receivers and line that we would be able to win this.”
Despite multiple miscues by his team and a 7-0 deficit in the first half, Asfalg remained composed throughout the game. He completed 19-of-27 pass attempts for 280 yards, a passing touchdown and the rushing score.
It wasn’t until the fourth quarter started that the Panthers’ offense truly came to life.
After Mountain Lakes (7-3) failed to convert a fourth-down attempt, Asfaig found Michael Ruggiano on a short toss, and the player that Asfalg called the “fastest guy in Group 1,” raced 89 yards to set up the team’s initial score - a two-yard run by Thomas Cannataro and fake extra point run by Sebastian Kovacs with 10:18 left. The play seemed to invigorate the Panthers and give them an 8-7 lead.
Cannataro, Jack Velonas, and Michael Cantarelli blew up The Herd line, each registering a tackle for a loss as Mountain Lakes’ offense went three-and-out, leading to a punt. Three-plays later, Asfalg found Ruggiano (seven catches for 160 yards) for a 33-yard touchdown with 7:12 remaining in the game for a 14-7 Panthers advantage.
Other than one series in the second quarter, Cedar Grove’s defense managed to contain Mountain Lakes’ dangerous running attack. Seven different players on the disruptive unit had at least once tackle for a loss. Jake Cantanzarite added a fumble recovery, and Xavier Andujar, who added nine catches for 101 yards on offense, closed out the game with an interception for the Panthers.
“It was all about execution in this game,” senior linebacker Cannataro said. ”When we’re flying around, nothing can stop us."
Cedar Grove, which is hoping to return to the Group 1 Final for the second straight season, won its third-straight game. Despite the victory, the Panthers have a 15-22 record in the all-time series against The Herd.
Friday’s game was similar to the last meeting that was played between the two programs four years ago. Mountain Lakes held a 7-0 lead before Cedar Grove scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns for a 15-7 sectional title win.
“They’re the one team you don’t want to play,” Mountain Lakes coach Darrell Fusco said. “We were out of sorts and had the one turnover, but you have to give credit to them for playing a great game.”
Mountain Lakes’, which was hoping to make its fifth straight sectional final, had its six-game winning streak snapped. It was the longest string of consecutive victories for the Morris County school since the start of the 2022 season.
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