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Elliot-Able Rushes for 136 Yards but Pats Fall to Hopatcong

September 24, 2025

NW_FB_Hopatcong_25_01 Large — Zach Paseler ran for 56 yards against Hopatcong. Photo by Joe Phalon.

Aiden Elliott-Able was everywhere on the green grass of Hopatcong, leading the game with 136 rushing yards for North Warren during its 27-20 loss Sept. 12.

That included a breakout 79-yard touchdown run to open the second half. The run was particularly sweet, coming on a fourth-and-short-yardage when the ball appeared to be spotted improperly on the previous play, when the Patriots likely should have had a first down.

But this was better.

“We decided to go for it,” said head coach John Bauman. “They just put things like that behind them and go forward.”

Head coach John Baum holds court in the second half. Photo by Joe Phalon.

Elliot-Able was more than happy to spread the wealth around to his teammates in the backfield. The Pats ran for a combined 244 yards, with Zach Paseler rushing for 56 yards on eight carries and Arthur Soricelli notching 20 yards on three carries.

Aiden Elliott-Able had a game-high 136 yards rushing for North Warren. Photo by Joe Phalon.

Quarterback C.J. Mamay rushed for 28 yards and went 4-of-6 in the air for 58 yards including one touchdown.

Both schools are in rebuilding years, with North Warren last year playing mostly juniors and sophomores. After finishing 0-8 a season ago, Hopatcong has won two of its last three games. North Warren opened with a 32-27 win over Bound Brook but fell to Kittatinny the previous week.

North Warren will host Hackettstown on Friday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. The game will also mark Senior Night, honoring seniors from football, cheerleading, marching band and cross country.

Joe Phalon, Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

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.