The Patriots of North Warren marked their second last-minute victory of the season over
Boonton on Sept. 30, bringing them to a 3-2 record.
The turning point came earlier in the fourth quarter. Leading 20-14, the Patriots were poised to score six from four yards out when running back Alex Diaz fumbled in the end zone. The Bombers converted that miscue into a touchdown and extra point for a one-point lead.
On their next possession, Diaz, who had 111 yards on 22 carries for the night, caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Van Valkenburg to regain the lead with 48 seconds.
“You know, we, we talked about it all week,” head coach Gene Fluri said after the game. “Hey guys, it’s going to be a true test. You have to be disciplined because they’re very disciplined.”
After the Diaz fumble, Fluri said he told his team to move on, it was in the past.
“So the kids came back,” he said, with Diaz demonstrating just how quickly they can recover.
Joe brings decades of journalism experience to the Ridge View Echo, covering everything from local school boards to the U.S. Supreme Court. A former National Law Journal editor and Columbia Law School press officer, he now enjoys telling community stories in Blairstown, where he lives with his wife, Rose, and their two dachshunds.
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
