Passaic Valley football spoils Vernon's playoff party with overtime win
VERNON - Damian Kribs has a knack for finding the football.
The Passaic Valley two-way playmaker seems to be in the right places, at the right times when his team needs him the most.
So when the Hornets’ back was against the wall in Friday’s state-playoff opener against Vernon, Kribs made sure he was there and that his timing was on point.
Kribs’ play on both sides of the ball proved to be the difference as Passaic Valley stunned Vernon in overtime, 13-7, in the NJSIAA North 2, Group 3 opener at Anthony J. Macerino Stadium.
Passaic Valley, the No. 6 seed, will host No. 7 Montville next week in the sectional semifinals in Little Falls. The Mustangs upset No. 2 seed Parsippany Hills, 17-14 on Friday.
“No one on this team gave up, even when we were down by seven at the half. We stayed as a family the whole time. I needed to step up,” said Kribs, who scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime, had a key interception, and had a key stop for a loss on Vernon’s final play in overtime. “I’m a captain and a senior so when the plays came, I made them.”
Kribs played a key role in the Hornets’ defensive scheme all week of practice. Facing a Vernon team that had won eight straight games and featuring the state’s second-leading rusher, Logan Pych, stopping the Vikings’ high-powered run game was paramount. Pych, who came into the game with 1,623 yards and 17 touchdowns, still managed to break off for 201 yards, but the Hornets limited the big plays behind a locked-in defensive front.
“We were aggressive and extremely fast. We may not have the size, but we have the aggression and the speed,” defensive lineman Frank Martino said. “We knew we had to stuff him up front. It’s all about the linemen. We push the sleds all week at practice and knew we had to push. Damian [Kribs] is a stud player. He comes out when we really need it and when we’re under pressure. That’s how we role.”
Vernon (8-2) struck first when Pych connected with Franco Luna on a 1-yard touchdown pass with 27 seconds remaining in the first half. Facing fourth-and-goal at the one, Pych took a handoff, pulled up at the line of scrimmage and threw a jump-pass to Luna in the middle of the end zone. It was the Vikings first-ever touchdown at home in a state playoff game.
Trailing by seven to start the second half, Passaic Valley’s defense came up big when Kribs picked off Vernon quarterback Aden Karwoski at the 50-yard line and raced down to the Vernon 13. Two plays later, Karim Elsaadany barreled in from the one-yard line to knot the score 7-7 following the point-after-attempt.
The Vikings dominated the clock in both halves and had an opportunity to take the lead with just over a minute to play in regulation, but failed to score inside the red zone. On its final drive of the fourth quarter, Vernon ran Pych 12 consecutive times, taking the ball down to the seven-yard line. But on fourth down, the Vikings ran a fake field goal attempt and opted a pass that was intercepted by defensive back Ralphie Cintron in the end zone for a touchback.
Vernon had the ball first in overtime but failed to get a first down. Kribs had a big stop on fourth down when he dropped Pych behind the line, giving his team a chance to win it.
“Watching their film, he [Pych] was able to break off a bunch of big runs all year,” Passaic Valley coach Max Wassel said. “I think we contained that enough to hold them and get off the field.”
What it means
Passaic Valley, playing in its first postseason game in five years, advances past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. The last time the Hornets won a playoff game was in 2009 when they defeated Somerville, 28-6 in the North 2, Group 3 opener. The Little Falls school eventually reached the sectional final, falling to West Morris, 28-19.
Vernon was playing in its first home playoff game in 41 years. The last time the Vikings hosted a postseason contest was 1982.
Key play
With the score knotted at seven in overtime and Vernon facing fourth-and-three at the Passaic Valley 17-yard line, Kribs took down Pych behind the line to force a turnover on downs. Seven plays later, Kribs scored on a 1-yard keeper for the win.
“He’s a gamer. When the lights are on he shows up,” Wassel said of Kribs. “He plays so hard and there’s nothing more you can ask of him.”
By the numbers
Kribs rushed for 64 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown.
Pych carried 42 times for 201 yards.
They said it
“The plan all week was to stop the run. That’s what we did. They still pounded the ball and kept going after it. That kid [Pych] is a heck of a runner with a great offensive line. We showed up defensively. This win is huge for our program. We have a lot of young guys on this team. For them to see this and know what it feels like to win a playoff game, that want is going to be there all year. It’s just an awesome win.” – Wassel.
“The plan is to keep winning. Some people didn’t believe we would win this game. We had players step up when it mattered. I’m happy for us. This is big for our program.” – Kribs.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Passaic Valley NJ football spoils Vernon's playoff party with OT win
