Live updates: Passaic Tech faces Toms River North in Group 5 state championship game
The Group 5 football championship game matched up the top two teams in the Statewide Public Top 20 rankings.
Passaic Tech (13-0) entered at No. 1, followed by Toms River North (11-2) at No. 2. This was a rematch of last year's Group 5 title game, won by the Mariners.
Toms River North successfully defended its title with a 23-13 win.
First quarter
Passaic Tech kicked off to begin the game.
The Mariners scored on the game's opening possession on a fourth-down pass from Micah Ford to Jeremiah Pruitt. Toms River North 7, Passaic Tech 0
Trashon Dye tied the game with a 76-yard touchdown run on the Bulldogs' first play from scrimmage. Toms River North 7, Passaic Tech 7
On its second possession. Toms River North moved the ball into Passaic Tech territory. But the drive ended with an interception by Alston Jordan.
Two plays later, Jeremiah Pruitt intercepted a Passaic Tech pass.
Second quarter
Micah Ford converted on fourth-and-1 on the first play of the second quarter, but Toms River North's drive later ended with an interception by Jovan Tyrell.
After three straight possessions ended with punts, Toms River North got into the red zone and kicked a field goal as time expired in the first half. Toms River North 10, Passaic Tech 7
Third quarter
Passaic Tech received the ball to start the second half, and that drive ended with a punt.
After a 40-yard run by Micah Ford, the Toms River North quarterback finished the job and extended the Mariners' lead by leaping into the end zone from the 1-yard line. Toms River North 17, Passaic Tech 7
The teams traded punts on the ensuing possessions.
Fourth quarter
The teams traded punts to open the fourth quarter.
The Mariners may have sealed the win with a 43-yard pick-six by Anthony Rodriguez. The extra point was no good. Toms River North 23, Passaic Tech 7
Passaic Tech responded with a 5-yard touchdown run by Trashon Dye. The two-point conversion failed. Toms River North 23, Passaic Tech 13
The Bulldogs attempted an onside kick but it was fielded cleanly by the Mariners.
FULL COVERAGE: Analysis, scores and schedule from NJ football state championships
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: PCTI NJ football vs. Toms River North: Live updates - Group 5
