Pascack Valley vs Ramapo

When: Friday Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Ramapo High School

Current Records:

Ramapo: 7-0

Pascack Valley: 6-1

The Indians snatched the Patriot Gold league title last week with a 20-19 win over River Dell, and are set to face one final test before the playoffs on Friday night when they take on the undefeated Ramapo Raiders.

The Raiders, winners of 20 straight games, pose as Valley’s toughest challenge yet. They’ve outscored their opponents 261-108 on the season and are coming off a 35-28 overtime victory over Wayne Hills in which Ramapo was without starting running back Jake Tirone and lost quarterback Charles DePrima to a knee injury towards the end of the first half. However, regardless of opponent, the Indians are consistent in their preparation tactics going into each game.

“We work out any type of kinks that we feel need to be addressed and then we go play football,” Cusumano said. “Obviously this is a battle for first place in North, Group 3 so both teams are going to be ready to go. It’s just a matter of who’s going to make the most plays on Friday night.”

Coming off a strong offensive showing against River Dell, the Indians will look to build on last week’s 283-yard performance in which they were effective both on the ground with running back Jake Williams and through the air with quarterback Stephen Begen. Finding success in both areas of attack will be essential in moving the ball against a stingy Ramapo defense that currently allows an average of just over 15 points per game.

“[The offense needs to] continue to execute, continue to play well, continue to play fast and physical, and [continue] playing Valley football,” Cusumano said.

Valley was solid on the other side of the ball last week as well, intercepting River Dell twice. The defense will have to bring its “A” game on Friday night to find similar success against the Raiders, who are averaging an astonishing 37 points per game led by DePrima and Tirone– who have combined for 25 touchdowns so far this season– as well as dynamic wide receiver Sean Clapp, who leads all Ramapo receivers in yards (450) and touchdowns (4).

“Once again, [we have to keep] being great tacklers,” Cusumano said. “I thought we were fundamentally sound in that area [against River Dell]. I think that was really one of the key factors in last week’s game and it’s no different this week with [Ramapo having] a lot of guys at all positions that can make plays. We have high expectations of all our guys to get out there and get the job done.”

While it’s currently unclear whether or not DePrima and Tirone will return to Ramapo’s backfield this week, Valley is preparing as if they will be. But if not, DePrima would be replaced by senior quarterback Chris Valvano, who hit Clapp for a 25-yard touchdown in overtime last week to beat Wayne Hills. Tirone’s role would be filled by junior running back Rich Sica, who ran for 118 yards and a touchdown in Tirone’s absence last week.

Aside from a momentum boost going into the playoffs, there is a lot on the line for both teams in the regular season finale. The winner will clinch the top seed in the North, Group 3 playoff picture, meaning it’ll receive home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Ramapo currently leads Valley by one game in the North, Group 3 standings, but a win would even up the records and provide the Indians with the tiebreaker.

“[A win puts us] in great position,” Cusumano said. “We’d be able to have home field advantage throughout the playoffs, [and] that’s a big deal. We want to make sure we earn that, but nobody’s giving anything to us and we have to go and take it.”