Pat Cerulli scored four TDs for Rutherford, which advanced to the North 2, Group 2 state sectional final with a 37-10 win over Ridgefield Park.

RUTHERFORD – This season has exactly what the Rutherford players had hoped for to this point; improving each week, working towards common team goals, winning an NJIC title and playing in front of big crowds. There is one goal though that remains out there, however, and that is winning a state sectional championship.

Trailing a gritty Ridgefield Park squad in the second quarter, Rutherford knew this game and its season were at a crossroads. The Bulldogs did not want to see their season end on their home field, and something had to change in short order if they wanted their season to continue. Tailback Pat Cerulli and an aggressive defense stepped to the forefront to make sure the dream season stayed intact.

The Bulldogs picked off four Ridgefield Park passes. Cerulli was the beneficiary of those turnovers, running for three touchdowns and catching a TD pass as top-seeded Rutherford scored 29 unanswered points to advance to the North 1 Group 2 section final with a 37-10 win over No. 4 seed Ridgefield Park on Friday night at Tryon Field in Rutherford.

“We knew what we were up against this week against a team that plays hard and has a lot of experience,” said Rutherford head coach Steve Dunn. “We relish being in these situations and we believe in each other. Our kids play very coachable, they play hard, and they give us a chance to win.”

Ridgefield Park took the opening kickoff and junior quarterback Brevin Cooney marched them right down the field with precision throws, An eight-yard run by Andrew Vargas got them to the one-yard line. But a holding call on the next play moved the Scarlets back and they had to settle for a 30-yard field goal from Vargas to open the scoring.

Andrew Vargas' TD gave Ridgefield Park an early 10-8 lead.

It took just one play for Rutherford to respond when Cerulli used a huge block from Connor Finan and went 68 yards untouched to the house with a two-point conversion putting the Bulldogs ahead, 8-3.

The Scarlets answered back by using some trickery with wide receiver faking a reverse and then pulling back for a pop pass to Vargas for the TD and a 10-8 lead.

The Bulldogs used a halfback pass up the sideline to Cole Goumas that set up a TD run by Cerulli to put Rutherford back in front. From there the Bulldog defense took over the game. They consistently got pressure on Cooney and tipped passes that turned into interceptions. The first of those was taken in by Zach Herninko near midfield. That eventually led to a TD pass on a quick slant over the middle from Van Weber to sophomore Ryan Ward as Rutherford took a 23-10 halftime lead into the locker room.

The Bulldogs got the ball to start the second half and put the game away.

Weber lofted a screen pass to his left for Cerulli. The senior tailback followed his blocks to the end zone for a 14-yard score before adding a 32-yard jaunt later in the third quarter to cap the scoring.

Connor Finan and Luciano Matteo each record their first interceptions of the season for Rutherford (9-1). They will get one more game at Tryon Field next Friday night when they face sixth-seeded Jefferson, who pulled a 27-14 upset over Newton in the other semifinal last night. With a section title on the line and the support of a community squarely behind them, the Bulldogs are looking to add another a trophy to their collection.

“It’s a crazy feeling to have this whole community behind us each and every week,” said Cerulli. “It’s amazing. We just want to keep the train moving.”

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