For two quarters, Washington Township looked like a team still searching for its spark. For the final two quarters, Jaylen Robinson became the spark, gasoline, match, and firework finale all in one.
The senior delivered one of the most absurd championship-stage takeovers you’ll see, ripping off three touchdowns on three straight carries and turning a 6–3 halftime deficit into a 31–12 win over Passaic Tech in the NJSIAA Group 5 Final at MetLife Stadium. The undefeated Minutemen finished 14–0 and secured the school’s first state title.
A Robinson Takeover
Robinson put up a video-game stat line:
- 6 carries, 112 yards, 3 TDs (three of his four carries in the 2nd half went for touchdowns)
- Touchdowns of 26, 65, and 12 yards
- Plus a defensive sequence that directly led to a game-changing interception
His takeover started after a wild exchange of turnovers early in the third quarter. Passaic Tech backed itself up with penalties, then Andrew Osborn smoked QB Gabe Miles for a sack on fourth-and-44. Darion Joyner’s 20-yard punt return set the Minutemen up at the Bulldogs’ 30.
Two snaps later, Robinson bulldozed a defender for a 26-yard go-ahead score, flipping the game’s momentum on its head.
The very next drive, Township’s defense forced a turnover on downs. Robinson immediately detonated the moment: a perfectly sealed edge, one cut, and he hit hyperspeed for a 65-yard touchdown, blowing the lead open before Passaic Tech could catch its breath.
Then he jogged back onto the field — on defense — and pressured Miles into an interception by Elliott Seibert, setting up Cole Aquino’s 20-yard TD pass to Jyair Moore.
And because the script demanded one more, after a fumbled kickoff by Tech, Robinson punched in a 12-yard exclamation point to make it 45–6 before a late Bulldogs TD.
This was a senior-year mic drop.
Clean QB Play, Filthy Defense
Quarterback Cole Aquino didn’t need to throw much, but he made his moments count:
- 7/8 passing, 51 yards, 1 TD
- Nine rushing yards on two carries
The Minutemen defense, meanwhile, absolutely clamped when it mattered. They held Passaic Tech to:
- 77 rushing yards on 31 carries
- 12 total points (6 coming in the final two minutes)
- Two turnovers, including the Seibert pick that broke the game open
Osborn led the charge defensively with one sack, and the unit consistently smothered Gabe Miles’ improvisation outside the pocket.
Passaic Tech Fought
To Passaic Tech’s credit, they punched first.
A 15-play march capped with Gabe Miles’ 15-yard TD to Tyson Watkins put them up 6–3 in the second quarter, and their defensive front made Township grind early.
Miles finished with 170 passing yards, but Township’s pressure and the second-half avalanche were too much to absorb. Kadir Younge added a late 4-yard TD, but by then the title was long secured.
The Bulldogs end their season at 10–4.
Setting the Tone Early
Township opened the game with a 13-play drive that reached the 3-yard line before penalties stalled momentum, leading to a 27-yard Luke Sheets field goal.
That early field goal ended up being the only Minutemen points until the Jaylen Robinson Show came to life — but once it did, the stadium flipped.
A Senior Class Built for the Moment
Washington Township’s roster featured nearly 30 seniors, many of whom have been together since youth football. For them, this wasn’t just a championship; it was the final chapter they always dreamed of writing.
And Robinson, the heartbeat of that group, made sure the ending was unforgettable.
Photo Credit: Devon Gray
(Left to Right: Cole Aquino, Dante Leary, Danny Carter)
