No.1 Pascack Valley Football (8-1) defeated No. 8 West Milford (5-5) by a score of 49-14 in the first round of the NJSIAA North Group 3 playoffs on Friday, November 1.

Pascack Valley scored two touchdowns in the first quarter. QB Adam Shaw (Jr.) scored a five-yard touchdown run, followed by a ten-yard touchdown run. The score was 14-0.

West Milford scored a touchdown of its own in the second quarter on a 56-yard hook and ladder touchdown pass from QB Aydin Deane (Jr.) to RB Chase Tyburczy (Jr.). 

Pascack Valley retaliated: RB Kevin Regula (Sr.) scored a three-yard touchdown run, extending Valley’s lead to 21-7. 

Valley got the ball back with under one minute in the half, but West Milford DB Mark Shinasi (Jr.) intercepted Shaw’s throw and returned the interception 55 yards for a touchdown—cutting Valley’s lead in half and making the score 21-14 going into halftime.

To start the second half, Valley TE Colin Krause (Sr.) returned the kickoff to the opposite 47-yard line. On the next play, Shaw ran for a 47-yard touchdown. Valley scored again in the third quarter, on a one-yard touchdown run by Regula. 

Pascack Valley scored again in the third quarter, with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Shaw to WR Ashton Kazinci (Sr.). The score was 42-14 at the end of the third quarter, capping off the 21-point quarter by the Panthers.

The Panthers added a final touchdown in the fourth quarter, a one-yard touchdown run by Regula.

Shaw finished with four total touchdowns: one passing and three running. Regula finished with three rushing touchdowns.

Pascack Valley will take on the four-seeded Montville Mustangs on Friday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m., at home.