Passaic Tech football blows by West Orange in rematch of last year's state semifinal
WAYNE − Passaic Tech's offense is beginning to share the spotlight with its dominant defense.
Senior running back Trashon Dye ran for 159 yards and three touchdowns and the Bulldogs defeated West Orange, 43-19, Thursday night in the Super Football Conference.
Dye scored on runs of 1, 22 and 22 yards to help Passaic Tech (4-0) open a 36-13 lead over the team it beat twice last year in defensive battles, including the North Group 5 regional final.
“For us to score that many points, it’s a feeling that we don’t want to let go,” Trashon Dye said.
Dye's twin brother, Travon, also a two-way standout and Syracuse commit, scored on a 1-yard run in the third to extend the Bulldogs lead to 43-13.
Passaic Tech's defense is championship caliber and senior Jovan Tyrell scored the game's first points on a 49-yard interception return at 9:43 of the first quarter.
The Bulldogs extended their lead to 14-0 midway through the first quarter after senior quarterback Ma'Kao Taylor threw a 65-yard TD pass to senior receiver Cashmere Jones.
“I kind of laugh that everybody says we don’t score points,” said Passaic Tech coach Matt Demarest, whose team has totaled 98 points in its last two games after totaling 26 in its first two.
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What it means
Passaic Tech should remain at No. 1 in the North Jersey Public Top 20 rankings and no worse than No. 2 in the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey Public Top 20 rankings after showing an explosive offense in its last two games. The Bulldogs next face Ridgewood, a team they lost to last September at home, 12-7.
“Overall, we clicked on offense,” Trashon Dye said. “We always click on defense, and that’s something we take pride in, but for our offense to step up big for us today means a lot for us. We hope to carry this into next week against Ridgewood and hopefully propel us throughout the playoffs and the rest of the season.”
By the numbers
Passaic Tech recovered two kickoffs in the second half after racing downfield and recovering short kicks near the sideline inside the 40-yard line. The Bulldogs recovered at the 34-yard line and 38-yard line and turned the first one into a score for the 43-13 lead.
“Our special teams came around today, which was really nice,” Demarest said. “The difference between the good and the great has always been special teams. You could have a good offense, and a really good defense, and be horrible on specials and lose games.”
Passaic Tech totaled 315 yards, including 229 rushing. The Bulldogs had 185 yards in the first half en route to a 29-13 lead.
West Orange had 277 total yards, including 174 passing. Junior quarterback Jasia Mumford-Lee threw three TD passes, including a 2-yard score to junior Terrell Wilfong, a 27-yarder to junior Justin Laniyan and a 24-yarder to sophomore David Moore.
They said it
“They were the team that almost knocked us off twice last year, so the kids wanted to play hard, and they played for each other,” Demarest said. “Again, the balance was there, and it was exciting to watch; defense, special teams, offense, they were motivated today.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: PCTI NJ football blows by West Orange in state semifinal rematch
