Pascack Valley vs Ridgefield Park

When: Friday Oct. 11, 7 p.m.

Where: Ridgefield Park High School

Current Records:

Pascack Valley: 4-1

Ridgefield Park: 1-4

“[Bouncing back from a loss] is always big,” head coach Len Cusumano said. “It’s another opportunity.” 

The Indians will look to capitalize on the opportunity to get back on track following their 21-12 loss to Old Tappan when they travel to Ridgefield Park on Friday night to face the Scarlets, whom they trounced 42-12 last time the two teams met in 2018. Led by first-year head coach Steve Dunn (last year’s offensive coordinator and the program’s third head coach in as many years), the Scarlets come in at 1-4, dropping four straight games after a 41-6 victory over Whippany Park to open up the season.

While Valley’s defense eventually settled down and allowed Old Tappan just seven points after the first quarter, the unit got off to a rough start last week, giving up two plays of over 60 yards and two touchdowns within OT’s first three offensive drives. Limiting mistakes on the defensive end will be key for the Indians to shut down a Ridgefield Park offense that has struggled recently, averaging just nine points per game throughout the team’s four-game losing streak.

“Just don’t give up the big play,” Cusumano said. “Making sure we’re sound in the secondary, making sure we’re sound [with] tackling, and just continue playing great defense.”

Just as important in Valley getting back in the win column will be reestablishing a running game that was stifled a week ago despite being dominant for most of the season. Doing so will keep Ridgefield Park’s defense honest, thus opening up opportunities for the passing game to succeed as well. It will be largely up to the offensive line to get the ball rolling by opening up running lanes for senior workhorse Jake Williams, who was held to 56 rushing yards last week – an outlier in an otherwise dominant season in which he’s scored 11 total touchdowns.

“I think [the offensive line] has been great in practice this week, really focusing on pass protection and being fundamentally sound in their technique,” Cusumano said. “Obviously good things happen when we protect the quarterback and when we’re able to run the football.”

Just like the Indians, Ridgefield Park’s offense is looking to get back on track after the Scarlets were held scoreless by Paramus last week. Junior signal caller Matt Vercelli is in his second season at the helm of a unit that includes a respectable duo of senior Logan Martinez and sophomore Tyler Colon out of the backfield.

The Scarlets haven’t found success on the other side of the ball either lately, as the defense has allowed 25 points per game during the team’s losing streak. The Indians tagged 237 total rushing yards on Ridgefield Park’s defense last year, including three touchdowns by Williams, and will look to build on that performance Friday night. Begen also threw for 92 yards and two touchdowns on just three passes in the win.

Beating Ridgefield Park would elevate Valley to a 5-1 record, one that it hasn’t attained since 2015. While the Scarlets don’t boast a winning record, the Indians understand the risks of underestimating any opponent.

“It’s a league game,” Cusumano said. “We’re not overlooking anybody. We got to go to their place – they call it ‘The Pit’ down there– and just make sure we’re playing sound football.”