There was a time when Parsippany Hills and Randolph were annual state playoff contenders.
But victories have been hard to come by this fall.
Both teams were winless in 2025 – until this past weekend. They both dropped their first seven games but struck gold.
Par Hills’ defense, solid all year, pitched a second-half shutout and beat Morris Hills, 14-13.
Vikings coach Ross Tarlowe grew emotional with his kids after his first win. He was very proud and had a lot to say … but he was so overcome with joy that he couldn’t get the words out of his mouth.
Randolph, beset by injuries all year, overwhelmed Orange, 41-6.
Unlike Tarlowe, Rams coach Ryan Gresik could speak afterwards – but he felt very sticky. That’s because he was given a Gatorade bath – against doctor’s orders (more on that later).
Par Hills had lost 18 straight dating back to the Montville loss in the first round of the playoffs two years ago. The Vikings, winless last year, found themselves competitive in many games this year but couldn’t cross the finish line.
Saturday, they trailed 13-0 in the first half but then took a 14-13 lead at the half. The defense controlled the game’s final 24 minutes.
“It was very emotional talking to the kids after the game,” said Tarlowe, who was an assistant at the school for 23 years under Dave Albano and had a hand in the Vikings winning six IHC-Hills championships, the only two sectional championships in school history and seven finals berths. “I had one question for them: Is anything better than this?”
Albano was in attendance and came down from the bleachers to give Tarlowe a bearhug when it was over. The kids were emotional, too, and awarded Tarlowe the game ball, which will be painted and take center stage in the school’s football office.
“I have been around a long time, and I told the kids, ‘It’s all about you guys,’” Tarlowe said. “I have been around losing and winning seasons, conference and state champs, and these kids deserved to win as much as anyone.”
Tarlowe has been coaching as an assistant for 26 years and has been a head coach for two seasons. When Albano went to Randolph two years ago, Tarlowe got the job.
This year’s team was in the mix before losing to such playoff-bound teams as Roxbury (a 14-13 loss on opening night in August), Vernon (21-6) and River Dell (14-0). Lately, the team began to fade against stellar opponents such as Montville (27-7), West Morris (44-7) and Warren Hills (34-14).
But the tide began turning in the first half against Morris Hills. QB Nick Napolitano (8 for 13, 104 yards, 7 for 50 rushing) tied the game with a 1-yard run and then completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Manny Salcedo to put the Vikings ahead, 14-7.
Morris Hills’Jack Wans scored a 3-yard run to bring the Scarlet Knights to within 14-13, but MH missed the extra point. Turns out, that would be costly.
Par Hills put up a No Trespassing sign for the entire second half.
“We made a few adjustments,” Tarlowe said. “The kids were excited. We had trouble stopping their running game. Manny Salcedo had an INT when they were in our territory inside the red zone near the end of the third quarter.
“We have had some big plays defensively. My philosophy of running the ball was important and we were able to do that. Napolitano made some big plays, scrambling, and completing some important passes. We had a third down late in the game and we needed a first, so we hit a middle screen to Nick Vico and that got us a first down and we took a couple of knees after that.”
After gathering himself, Tarlowe addressed his team.
“I talked to the kids … I felt bad for them,” Tarlowe said. “They fought every game. It got frustrating. I tried to be as positive as I could. There is talent in the room and we needed to keep fighting and believe in each other.
“It was just so very exciting. I’m so happy for the kids. They were thrilled. Our student section was going crazy. That’s what it’s all about. After the game, talking to the kids, that’s what it is all about.
“I heard (Sunday) via texts, that the kids were taken aback that I was emotional. Seniors especially were emotional. Thrilled. This hasn’t happened in a long time. Last year, we had a lot of injuries. We had been close in every game this year, other than West Morris.”
Randolph was in the same winless boat as Par Hills. Over the years, the Rams have always been in the postseason hunt but have been crushed by injuries.
But some of the walking wounded are beginning to return.
Quarterback Jackson Magley (112 for 177 for 1,288 yards and 13 touchdowns with seven INTs last year) was arguably the best returning QB in all of Morris County entering this year and was being counted on for big things but was injured before the opener, a shockingly lopsided 47-12 loss at Teaneck.
Magley had been missing for most of the year behind center but has been a contributor in other ways.
He dominated the Orange game with touchdown runs of 85 and 15 yards. He threw a TD pass to Matt Scrapits. Magley, normally a one-way player at QB, offered to play defensive back due to all the injuries earlier this year and had six first-half tackles against Orange as the Rams built up a 35-0 lead.
Dillon Hines had 80 yards rushing and a touchdown and Scrapits had two TDs.
“You know,” Gresik told his team at the half, “this is what we have worked up to.”
Randolph’s season has had one frustrating injury after another up and down the roster. But the Rams have still battled.
“We have been in a lot of games,” Gresik said. “The final scores haven’t shown the true result. Against Warren Hills (a 34-7 loss), it was 19-7 and we had the ball twice inside their 5 in the third quarter and then we went backwards.
“Against Roxbury (a 23-6 loss), we were down 9-6 at half. We drove down to the red zone twice and failed to capitalize and they capitalized.
That’s why the Orange win was so nice. It was the culmination of their work.”
So many key players who were expected to contribute in 2025 either never got onto the field or have been hobbled.
Receiver Joey Sommer (44 for 659, 5 TDs last year) was expected to be one of the premier receivers in Morris County but was injured a mere six plays into the campaign. The Magley-to-Sommer combination might have been the best one in the area heading into 2025 but never got off the ground.
There were other major injuries. Justin Novak, expected to be a two-way player at receiver and linebacker, never played. Patrick Dell’Aglio, good enough to see playing time as a freshman and the starting tailback, tore his ACL in the first week. Right tackle Greg Ford tore his ACL during the first scrimmage.
Middle linebacker Joey Bosotina, a three-year starter, has been in and out of the lineup.
Starting receiver E.J. Febles was out for three weeks, came back for two, and then dislocated his kneecap.
Linebacker John Andrade, the team’s leading tackler, went down against Warren Hills and has been missing from the lineup ever since.
Backup QB Edgar Varela was injured and the team turned to Skrapits.
All of the injuries mattered, but none more than when Jackson injured his shoulder.
“He has played running back and receiver,” Gresik said. “He was able to throw last week against Roxbury. He has played safety, which speaks volumes about his toughness. He is our second-leading tackler. He has two INTs on the year and hasn’t played safety since eighth grade.”
Magley has still been able to fight through his injuries with what has turned into a remarkable all-around season (500 yards passing, 130 yards receiving, 330 yards rushing, 40 tackles, 2 INTs).
“All on a bad shoulder,” according to Gresik.
Gresik was able to get the entire roster into the Orange game and many players celebrated some kind of success.
Steven Nostrame, who’d never scored a touchdown in his life, according to Gresik, crossed the goal line for a score in the second half.
The sideline was so happy after the game that the team gave Gresik a Gatorade shower.
“It was a long time coming, seven games,” he said. “The trainer told them to use water and they used Gatorade. It was sticky, but a really cool moment. My wife caught it on video.
“It was all due to the work of the kids. As much as we have gone through this season, they stuck together. If you watched us practice every day, you’d never know we were 0-7.
“The kids come to work every single day. There is no blame or divide. It is a testament to their mental toughness and their strong bond together. Winning was definitely a great moment.”
HERE AND THERE
1. After a terrific junior year, Butler QB David Smith (952 yards passing this year, 13 TDs, 778 yards rushing, 13 TDs) is having another brilliant season. The defending champion Bulldogs are headed for their second straight NJIC championship game at Rutherford Friday night. Rutherford had won three straight league championships before Butler won it last year.
Smith is being recruited by D-3 schools (FDU-Madison and others) but his football future is a little cloudy. He wants to play at a school with a winning tradition and one that has a fan following.
“I’m not sure yet,” he said about college football. “A lot will go into it. I’m not set on whether I want to play yet. There are a lot of decisions to make. I want to play for a school that is consistently winning. You want to play competitive games with good teams and a lot of people coming to watch.”
2. Morris Knolls coach Bryan Gallagher had quite a week leading up to his team’s 27-21 loss at Bridgewater on Sept. 12. The Wednesday before, he had to be admitted to the hospital, where he’d spend five days.
“At the end of the school day, I had a stomach ache, no big deal,” he said. “I go to practice. I moved and it felt like I pulled a muscle. I’m freezing cold at practice. I got some flu medicine on the way home. My temperature went up and I had a 101 temperature. I’m curled up leading up to the Bridgewater game. I was worried about my appendix, if it bursts it could kill you. Turns out, I had diverticulitis, an infection in my stomach. It burst. I went on a crazy, restrictive diet. What a crazy ordeal.”
About six weeks before, Gallagher lost his dad, Morris County coaching legend Gerry, who was also an assistant at Knolls.
“I guess it was, ‘Whatever God can throw at me,’” Gallagher said.
Gallagher revealed this to me after Knolls’ 43-14 home win over Clifton.
“Hopefully,” he said, “today is the turning point.”
The Golden Eagles are in the hunt to qualify for the playoffs in North Group IV. They are currently seeded 12th but are dangerous.
While undefeated foes West Morris and Mount Olive fight it out for the Liberty White Division Friday night, Knolls knows it outgained both of those teams, yardage-wise, in its two losses against them.
But turnovers and misplays ruined the Golden Eagles in both games.
History says that, generally speaking, out-of-area teams struggle against Knolls spread Veer running attack because it is very unique. It’s like facing a knuckleball pitcher for the first time, very difficult to prepare for.
That’s why schools aren’t exactly signing up to face Knolls (4-4 with a game against West Essex coming up).
As Gallagher said, “We are capable of being pretty good.”
3. While teams like Par Hills, Randolph, and Knolls have been playoff constants down through the years, Kinnelon has had its struggles.
But not this year.
According to coach Dustin Grande, the Colts have won 37 percent of their games through its football history.
But they are one of the biggest surprises in all of North Jersey. They won seven straight before losing a 28-14 to powerful Shabazz, which laid a 53-0 whipping on Kinnelon when they met last year.
Kinnelon’s 7-0 start was the best in school history and they should beat North Warren Friday night and win the SFC-National Blue for their second division title under Grande since he took over four years ago. The only other division title in school history came in 1980, according to Grande.
Grande coached this current group of seniors when they were third-graders.
Said senior standout Soren Porada, “Coach has always been the same. Football is his whole life, something he takes pride in. He devotes time and money and family time to it. Football means a lot to him and he wants to share that joy with us. We embrace it, to be able to share that with others is great. He pushes everyone because he knows how great people can be.”
