There was under seven minutes left and 80 yards standing in front of Mount Olive – and 11 hungry Roxbury defenders scattered in between.

With a North 2, Group IV championship in the balance, things didn’t look too promising for the Marauders.

But Mount Olive coach Brian O’Connor had many weapons to draw from – and quarterback Jake Asbury at the controls.

Asbury calmly led the team downfield and he finally connected with Vin Carpini for a 9-yard touchdown pass on fourth down with just 23 seconds remaining to help the Marauders to a wild, 27-26 victory and the school’s first sectional championship since 2002.

Asbury came along brilliantly last year and is the best-returning quarterback in the Morris Sussex area.

He is back for another year after he was 141 for 265 for 1,667 yards and 15 TDs last year. He was also very elusive as he rushed 94 times for 423 yards and nine TDs.

Carpini (15 for 216, 3 TDs) is joined by a balanced group of receivers in Jekori Zapata (37 for 299, 2 TDs), Rondell Derrick (14 for 234), and tight end Lincoln Youtz, (14 for 186, 3 TDs).

That only tells half the story when it comes down to Mount Olive’s offense. Asbury can hand off to bruising running back Tyler Cumming (270 rushes for 1,467 yards and 14 TDs), who is being recruited by Monmouth as well as Ivy and Patriot League schools.

Mount Olive lost stellar Aidan Lynch (Virginia Tech) but returns standout linemen Anthony Giammanco, Richie Vanatta, and Connor Smyth.    

The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Giammanco was so impressive last year that, when scouts watched Lynch on film, they had trouble telling Giammanco and Lynch apart. Giammanco is being recruited by Boston College and Wisconsin.

Vanatta (6-3, 260) is drawing college looks as well such as Sacred Heart.

Asbury and the wealth of talented Marauders are not the only area players to watch on offense this year.

Here are some others of note:

Zack Clarken (QB), Wallkill Valley – Clarken performed well after replacing record-setting Dylan Bonser. Clarken was 113 for 173 for 1,365 yards and 7 TDs for departing coach Bobby Leach, who was replaced by Jim Hammil. 

Brian Gruber (QB), Sussex Tech – Gruber did it all with his legs last year for coach Brian Stellingwerf, who guided the program to its best year ever. Gruber rushed for 1,083 yards and 17 TDs.

Shane Hoover (QB), Sparta – After an 0-4 start, Hoover helped the Spartans turn their season around and reach the sectional semifinals by going 87 for 137 for 1,146 yards and 12 TDs in only five games for coch Frank Marchiano.

Brandon Giangeruso (QB), Whippany Park – The Wildcats moved the ball well at times last year with Giangeruso under center. He was 110 for 204 for 1,416 yards and 10 TDs and rushed 118 times for 648 yards and another seven TDs for coach Luke Maginnis.

Anthony Feaster (RB), Montville – The quick, elusive, Feaster is ready for a big year for the Mustangs. He did it all last year for coach Rick DeBonta as he accumulated 1,343 yards and 17 touchdowns in a balanced attack.

Kevin King and Cole Capuzzi (RBs), Mendham – You cannot say one without the other. The two were dynamic in coach Ethan Jeros’ intricate option offense. King (121 for 1,081 yards, 14 TDs, 8.9) and Capuzzi (215 for 1,095, 6 TDs, 5.1) are equal threats out of the backfield.

Sylas White (RB), Boonton – The Bombers had one of the best running attacks in all of New Jersey (look it up!) under coach Brian Gallagher and White (170 for 1,362, 17 TDs) was terrific last year. New coach Sean Norton will depend on White to move the ball for the Bombers this fall. 

Dylan Roemmele (RB), Pequannock – The Golden Panthers were an under-the-radar surprise team last year under first-year coach Mike Moschella. Roemmele was one of the leaders as he carried 85 times for 868 yards and caught 12 passes for 183 yards.

Tylik Hill (RB), Pope John – Hill was a blur for coach Dom Gaston and his speed is his biggest asset as he rushed for 1,028 yards. He scored 16 touchdowns (12 rushing, 3 receiving and 1 kickoff return).

Jaxson Corkery (RB), West Morris – Corkery missed much of last year for the Wolfpack but coach Kevin Hennelly said the kid was the team’s best player. On a sectional championship team at one of the best programs in the Morris-Sussex area, that says plenty.

Carson Fitch (RB), Mountain Lakes – Fitch was hurt late in the year but when he played, he was the perfect fullback for the Herd’s Wing-T. He was 113 for 821 yards and 11 TDs and figures to be the focal point this year. 

Phil Folmar (WR), Delbarton – What an all-around threat for Green Wave coach Brian Bowers! Folmar played varsity as a freshman at the tradition-rich school three years ago and is ready for a monstrous season as he caught 47 passes for 579 yards and four TDs and rushed 69 times for 349 yards and eight scores as a junior. 

Brandon Kimball (OL), Montville – The Mustangs have had one of the area’s best two-way offenses for the past 5-10 years and should move the ball effectively this fall. Their go-to guy in big spots figures to be Kimball. 

Justin Gryszkin (OL), Pequannock – The Golden Panthers went through the National Blue undefeated and Gryszkin was a big part of it. They are the preseason favorites to repeat.

Jake Minolis (OL), Randolph – New Rams coach Dave Albano needs someone to anchor the line and he sure has that in Minolis, one of the best-returning linemen in the formidable Liberty White.

Peter Donini (OL), Delbarton – Donini is the latest in the long line of college-bound linemen out of Delbarton. He is powerful, athletic, agile, and being looked at by Ivy League and D-1 schools.

Andy Covello (OL), Delbarton – The powerfully built Covello will help lead the Green Wave against a demanding schedule. He was up to the task last year in more of a supporting role last year and is even more equipped to handle the rigors of the rugged United White this year.

Dan O’Leary (OL), Pope John – O’Leary combined with D-1 lineman Justin Platt to help put the Lions back on the map under coach Dom Gaston as the squad passed for 1,599 yards and ran for another 1,205.

Andrew Stickley (OL), Kinnelon – The Colts are run-heavy but went to the pass at times for coach Dustin Grande last year and Stickley excelled in the roles of opening holes and pass protection. 

Others to watch from the Morris-Sussex area include: 

Quarterbacks: Joey Borrello (Hanover Park), Mike Ciullo (Montville), Matt Ellsworth (Newton). 

Running backs: Jasiah Brown (Morristown).

Receivers: Dylan Morgenroth (Whippany Park), Corey Wang (Montville), Mikey Henehan (Butler), P.J. Coffey (Butler), Soreen Porado (Kinnelon).

O-Linemen: Dom Sette (Whippany Park), Tyler Tortola (Butler), Sean Rizzo (Morristown-Beard), Jordan Pflugfelder (Kittatinny), Henry Struble (Pequannock), Ron Ellerbe (Parsippany Hills), Danny MacDougal (Hanover Park).