The maroon machine was on the march again on Saturday. The Verona High School football team defeated Glen Ridge 52-17 and ended its regular season on a perfect 8-0 note.
The action in the first half of the game would have filled a full game–and more–elsewhere. Before the first half ended, the score was already 46-17 Verona.
Cael Zebrowski connected with Steven Petro for Verona’s first rouchdown but the Ridgers returned the ensuing kickoff for a TD of their own and soon after added a field goal.
But that lit a fire under the Hillbillies and set in motion back-to-back touchdowns by Frank Riggio. Glen Ridge bobbled the kickoff return after Riggio’s second TD, and an alert James Haveron scooped up the fumble to give Verona prime field position inside the Glen Ridge 20.
The final six minutes of the first half produced three more touchdowns for Verona, one by Rich DiGeronimo, the next by Jake Maisano and the last by Jake McConnachie after an interception by Andrew Emanuilidis. Verona’s final TD came in the second half, courtesy of Tyler DaCosta.
With the win, Verona became the #1 seed in North 2. It appears now that the Hillbillies will host #8 Kinnelon in the opening playoff game on Friday, November 8 at 7 p.m.
Photos copyright Bob Thomas. Used by permission.
