It was like watching two heavyweights trading bombs in the center of the ring. Ramapo landed a shot, Winslow answered with one of its own, and the cycle never stopped. In a state final that refused to slow down, the Eagles’ stars delivered the biggest punches when the moment demanded it.
Winslow beat Ramapo 34-21 on Sunday at SHI Stadium to secure its second straight NJSIAA Group 4 championship, leaning on a historic night from quarterback Jalen Parker and a monster performance from senior receiver Quayd Hendryx.
Hendryx found paydirt three times: an 88-yard bomb, a crisp 20-yard strike, and an 88-yard kickoff return that completely flipped the first-half momentum. The Minnesota commit even hauled in a two-point conversion late in the game.
By the time the dust settled, his numbers looked more like a Madden statline than a high school final: five catches, 165 yards, two touchdowns, and the knockout-punch return that changed everything.
Parker, meanwhile, etched his name into New Jersey history. His first-quarter touchdown toss, the 88-yarder to Hendryx after a defender slipped, made him the state’s all-time leader in career touchdown passes.
The junior finished with 240 yards, two passing touchdowns, one rushing score, and the steady command Winslow needed as it kept chasing down Ramapo’s leads.
Big Plays, Bigger Responses
Ramapo controlled the ball all afternoon, running 85 plays to Winslow’s 45 and piling up 299 total yards without turning it over. The Raiders leaned hard on senior running back Liam Hayward, who carried 36 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns and repeatedly powered the offense forward.
Hayward’s 34-yard burst late in the second quarter gave Ramapo a 7-6 lead. Fifteen seconds later, the lead vanished. Hendryx fielded the kickoff, waited behind his blocks, saw daylight, and was gone for the 87-yard sprint that sent Winslow into halftime ahead 12-7.
In the third quarter, Casey Grusser’s 1-yard keeper pushed Ramapo back in front 14-12. Winslow needed only four plays to flip the scoreboard again, with Parker hitting Hendryx from 20 yards out. And when Hayward muscled in on fourth and three early in the fourth to hand the Raiders a 21-18 edge, Winslow again came right back.
Ka’Ron Ceaser ripped off a 51-yard run, and Parker followed by lowering his shoulder and bulldozing in from the 13 to seize a 26 21 lead with 9:35 left.
Ramapo had one more chance, driving to the Winslow 30 before turning it over on downs. From there, running back Nakeem Powell finished the job with a 1-yard touchdown run at 2:16 remaining, sealing the Eagles’ repeat championship.
Ramapo Fought Until the Final Minutes
Two years ago, Ramapo reached the Group 4 final for the first time and was blown out 56 0 by Mainland. This time, the Raiders pushed one of the state’s top public school programs deep into the fourth quarter.
Grusser was efficient, completing 17 of 24 passes for 166 yards, though he was sacked six times. Defensive back Gavin Cordisco gave Ramapo late life by picking off Parker at the 1-yard line in the fourth, returning it 52 yards.
Winslow’s Playmakers Rose When the Game Demanded It Most
Winslow’s path to this title wasn’t as smooth as last year’s undefeated run, but its best players stepped up when the lights were brightest. Hendryx made the explosive plays. Parker broke a state record. The defense came up with key stops when Ramapo tried to mount one last surge.
Three times Ramapo took the lead. Three times, Winslow took it right back. Then the Eagles closed the door.
Big plays in big moments, from a team that plays its best when the stakes are highest.
