The text arrived on Metin Ahmedi’s phone in the beginning of summer.

It was from Sean Norton.

It came out of nowhere.

“Metin,” it said, “You are our quarterback.”

Those may not have been the Boonton coach’s exact words, but the sentiment was clear: The Bombers senior would be in charge of running Boonton’s offense.

He’d make the switch from receiver to QB.

And the kid was delighted.

“I fully wanted it,” he said.

Ahmedi has grown into the position, and the Bombers have grown as a team.

Boonton is in the running for a division championship in the SFC National Blue, pending a home game against North Warren Friday night and a game at Wallkill Valley on Oct. 19.

The Bombers lost highly-regarded coach Bryan Gallagher to Morris Knolls, but Norton has stepped in masterfully – just like Ahmedi has.

Some of the local divisional races are coming down to the wire. Some have been decided (see more below). 

Boonton is in the hunt thanks in part to the work Ahmedi has done behind center.

The Bombers are coming off a 35-23 victory over Kinnelon in a game that saw Ahmedi rush 12 times for 52 yards and two TDs. Boonton’s triple-option running game begins with Ahmedi making the right reads and that helped lead to Drew Cabalar (16 for 124) enjoying a big game with All-Morris candidate Sylas White (8 for 39, 2 TDs) being keyed on.

It all started with the text.

“Early this summer, I got a text from coach,” Ahmadi said. “‘We are giving you the chance, make us proud.’ So I did my best, worked all summer.”

When Ahmadi received the text, he didn’t say “GULP!”

Rather, he embraced it.

“I fully wanted it,” he said. “I like being the center of attention, all eyes on me, and I like leadership and calling the play. When things get out of hand, put the blame on me. I have people yelling at me when I mess up, but they have my back and I have their backs. I love the team.

“I love the leadership aspect and calling the shots.”

How did Norton arrive at appointing Ahmedi (10 catches, 422 yards, 5 TDs), the team’s leading receiver last year? Well, the kid received a high recommendation from none other than Gallagher, who’d “told me Metin is the guy,” Norton said.

Ahmedi also has quick feet and a sharp mind.

“He is an AP student, so he’s smart enough to grasp a difficult position,” Norton said. “And he ran the second fastest 40-time on our team.”

Turns out, Ahmedi was the correct choice.

“Our quarterback definitely deserves a lot of love,” Norton said. “He is one of the best option quarterbacks I have been involved with as a coach and coordinator. 

“He went through his reads. We threw a few different challenges his way last week (after a loss to Mountain Lakes). He is new to the QB position. It is really starting to click for him. It’s great to see a good kid who works hard do so well.”

The Boonton line, consisting of tackles Santino Adornetto and Hamsa Shehbaz, Sal Vitale and Ryder Williams-Jones at guard, and Jack McLaughlin at

Center, has also done its job. Enes Qose and Valdet Ahmetaj filled in admirably at Kinnelon.

Said Cabalar, “It all starts up front. Our linemen do a great job. We had some injuries. Some younger guys stepped up and really did a good job. Kinnelon has some big guys up front.” 

Here is a look at the area’s divisional races as we head down the homestretch:

National Blue

The skinny: Wallkill Valley can win it if it sweeps Whippany Park Friday on the road and Boonton on Oct. 19 at home.

Biggest games played: Kinnelon beat Whippany (35-7), but Whippany beat Boonton (30-15).

Biggest games remaining: Wallkill Valley at Whippany Park (Friday); Boonton at Wallkill Valley (Oct. 19).

MVP of the league: The best quarterback you have never heard of might be Wallkill’s dual threat Zack Clarken (66 for 105 for 912 yards passing and 11 TDs and just two INTs). He is also the Rangers leading rusher with 339 yards and six TDs.

United White

The skinny: Delbarton will travel to DePaul for the likely divisional title on Oct. 25. The two are among the top five teams – if not top four, or even top three – in all of New Jersey. One bit of optimism for the Green Wave is that they handled Seton Hall Prep (a 40-0 Delbarton win) easier than DePaul (which beat Seton Hall, 34-14). But on Saturday, Delbarton escaped with a 35-34 win over Pope John. The Lions absorbed a 47-14 loss to DePaul in Week 1.

DePaul beat Don Bosco Friday night in a classic, 21-20.

Biggest games played: Delbarton 40, Seton Hall Prep 0; DePaul 34, Seton Hall Prep 14; Delbarton 35, Pope John 34; DePaul 47, Pope John 14.

Biggest games remaining: Delbarton at DePaul, Oct. 25.

MVP of the league: Delbarton QB Jadon Prinzivalli is a first-year senior quarterback who would have played for a lot of teams as a junior were he not at Delbarton. Brian Bowers told me in the summer that Prinzivalli was every bit as good as senior Christian Zebrowski last year but Bowers went with the veteran. Prinzivalli (89 for 134, 1,440 yards, 12 TDs, 5 INTs) has been brilliant against a demanding schedule.  

American Blue

The skinny: Division races are rarely this balanced. This is a wild race that could end up tied at the top. Try and follow along: High Point let a lead slip away several times and lost to Newton (36-32). Newton lost to Lenape Valley, which lost to Kittatinny. Hackettstown has won three straight and plays Lenape Valley and Newton in the coming weeks. And Sussex Tech is dangerous. High Point (5-1) is probably the best team, but that loss to Newton – and the other divisional results – throws the divisional race into utter chaos!

Biggest games played: Many! Newton 36, High Point 32; High Point 36, Kittatinny 21; Kittatinny 20, Lenape Valley 6; Hackettstown 34, Kittatinny 13; Lenape Valley 19, Newton 7, Lenape Valley 28, Sussex Tech 16, 

Biggest games remaining: Any divisional game remaining is huge, so … Hackettstown at Newtron (Friday), High Point at Lenape Valley (Friday), Sussex Tech at Kittatinny (Saturday), Lenape Valley at Hackettstown (Oct. 18), Newton at Kittatinny (Oct. 19) and High Point at Sussex Tech (Oct. 19).

MVP of the league: Wow, tough call. I’m going with High Point RB Jerron Martress (146 for 945 rushing, 13 TDs), who had one carry all of last year. Two other MVP candidates: Stellar two-way High Point QB John Elko (1,138 yards combined passing and receiving), and Newton RB-LB Nick Kurilko (especially after personally demolished High Point two weeks ago with 21 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 INT with a 42-yard return attached, 14 for 158 rushing and 3 TDs. 

American White

The skinny: Hanover Park had a stunningly easy time with Pequannock (28-0 lead in the second quarter) and clinched the league title with a 41-9 victory Saturday. The Hornets also beat Madison (20-7) in Week 1.  The divisional race is over, but I’m intrigued by the game in two weeks between Pequannock and Madison. The Golden Panthers are still a team to watch in Group II, and the Dodgers have become one. All three Morris schools figure to be impactful in the state playoffs in Group II down the road. 

Biggest games played: Hanover Park 41, Pequannock 9; Hanover Park 20, Madison 7.

Biggest games remaining: Pequannock at Madison (Oct. 18). 

MVP of the league: Hanover has many threats on both sides of the ball and that is what makes the Hornets so dangerous. I’m going with RB-LB Joey Filippone.

Liberty Blue

The skinny: When the season started, all eyes were focused on the top two teams in the league, which were thought to be Montville and Mendham. Well, Chatham has crashed the two-team party and is about on that same level. The Cougars scored a surprising 31-6 win over Mount Olive that very few people saw coming.  

Biggest games played: Montville 34, Chatham 13. The Mustangs having their way with Chatham that day puts them in the driver’s seat for division supremacy. Chatham beating Mount Olive wasn’t a league game, but it is clearly the game of the year involving Liberty Blue teams thus far. But we have two weeks left.

Biggest games remaining: Mendham at Chatham (Friday), Montville at Mendham (Oct. 18)

MVP of the league: Montville senior Anthony Feaster (Lehigh) might be the most versatile performer in Morris County. He is 55 for 391 rushing (9 TDs), has caught 19 passes for 286 yards (2 TDs) and has three INTs. Honorable mention to Mendham’s running back tandem of Cole Capuzzi (681 yards rushing) and Kevin King (612 yards). Both rushed for 1,000 yards last year and are on pace to do it again.

Liberty White

The skinny: Knolls is in the driver’s seat to win the league. This was one of the best divisions in all of New Jersey last year with two sectional champs (West Morris and Mount Olive), a sectional finalist (Roxbury), a sectional semifinalist (Morris Knolls) and two others (Morristown and Randolph) who made the state playoffs. The league is more top-heavy this year. The Golden Eagles and West Morris are definitely in the upper echelon of the league. Mount Olive, after bad losses to Chatham (31-6) and Knolls (27-7 last week) must now find its way back before they can be included in the top two. They still have time and figure to make noise in the postseason. Knolls is a win over Morristown away from going through the league undefeated. I spoke to a lot of people in the summertime, and not many thought there would be an undefeated team within the league.

Biggest games played: Morris Knolls 27, West Morris 26; Morris Knolls 27, Mount Olive 7, Chatham 31, Mount Olive 6 (I know, I know, Chatham is not part of the Liberty White, but this result sent shockwaves throughout the conference that day, believe me!). 

Biggest games remaining: West Morris at Mount Olive, Oct. 25; Morristown at Morris Knolls, Oct. 19.

MVP of the league: RB-LB Bobby Brickner (574 yards rushing, 5 TDs) is the team’s leading rusher and one of the leading tacklers.

Patriot Red

The skinny: The division is pretty cut and dried. Sparta and West Milford are on a collision course for the division title. Sparta’s best divisional win is a 30-13 victory over Vernon. Sparta has a bye and will travel to meet West Milford on Oct. 18. West Milford had a more difficult time in beating Lakeland (20-13) than Sparta did.

Biggest games played: Sparta 30, Vernon 13; Sparta 31, Lakeland 17. West Milford 20, Lakeland 13.

Biggest games remaining: Sparta at West Milford,Oct. 18.

MVP of the league: Sparta’s Shane Hoover (116 for 163, 1,510 yards, 19 TDs, 4 INTs) has a rocket launcher for an arm. Hoover rescued the Spartans season last year and is leading the charge from Day One this year. Which Spartan is his go-to receiver? Answer: They all are! Six receivers have caught at least 10 passes this year. And seven have caught at least one touchdown pass. So good luck with that, opposing ‘D’ coordinators! Sparta will be a tough out in Group III.

NJIC

The skinny: Butler has been one of the best teams in the NJIC all year and is out to prove that it may indeed be THE best team in the league when the playoffs begin. The Bulldogs beat New Milford in a battle of unbeatens last week, 41-7. It is the first time in the NJIC league playoffs for Jason Luciani’s team since joining the league in 2018.

Biggest games played: Butler 41, New Milford 7; Butler 34, Hasbrouck Heights 6.

Biggest games remaining. Becton at Butler, NJIC playoffs (Oct. 17). Glen Rock vs. St. Mary-Glen Rock is the other semifinal. The winners play for the title the weekend of Oct. 24. Rutherford was the three-time champion.

MVP of the league: Butler’s do-everything senior P.J. Coffey could well be the best all-around player Luciani has ever coached at the school. That’s saying a lot about the kid because plenty of great players have gone through Butler since Luciani took over for Jim Matsakis in 2013. 

Here and there 

I have a question for you: What is the record for points scored by a team in a single game when that team didn’t score a single point in the entire first half? 

I say it has to be Whippany Park, which staged one of the biggest turnarounds of the year in a 42-14 victory at North Warren last week.

The Wildcats – scoreless in the first half – erupted for 42 points in the second half. Wow!

Think about it: Teams that don’t score a single point in the first half are either a) not very good, b) offensively challenged, or or c) are locked in a defensive struggle.

So if a team is not very good or offensively challenged, they’re not capable of scoring 42 points in ANY half. And if it is a defensive struggle, I don’t think they’re putting up 42 points in the second half.

But somehow, Whippany got things rolling in the second half and there was nothing North Warren could do about.

Wildcats QB Brandon Giangeruso led the way by going 15 for 29 with 276 yards and 3 TDs and rushing 8 times for 103 yards and another TD.

Receiver Sal Palmisano, meanwhile, caught 12 passes for 186 yards and two TDs, and also carried one time for a 69-yard touchdown.

“We got in a really solid groove offensively and these two players trusted our gameplan and made plays when we needed them too,” Coach Luke Maginnis said. “I couldn’t be more proud of their effort, especially in the second half.”