Mountain Lakes football takes out Brearley to win program's eighth sectional title
MOUNTAIN LAKES – The stinging reminder of last year’s loss in the sectional final hangs prominently on Jimmy Elliott’s bedroom wall.
Elliott, a senior halfback and safety for Mountain Lakes, posted a photo of his dejected 6-foot frame alongside victorious Cedar Grove players celebrating on Wilkins field. The image has served as a reminder of the team’s 15-7 heartbreak loss to the Essex County school.
“It was motivation for this season,” Elliott said. “It’s amazing to get back on the same field and have a different result. It’s surreal but I knew it would happen with these guys.”
Elliott eliminated those demons from the past with a key tipped pass on fourth down to lift Mountain Lakes past fourth-seeded Brearley, 16-6, in the North 1, Group 1 final Saturday. The Herd, who won their eighth sectional crown, play Weequahic in a Group 1 semifinal next weekend at Franklin High School.
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Mountain Lakes (10-1), which overcame 10 penalties in the game, bent but didn’t break throughout the second half. Brearley converted one of four fourth-down attempts in the second half, failing to come up with any points on two trips inside the Herd 12. Nico Dunn wrapped up Bears senior Brendan Fitzsimmons on a sweep to the left to thwart one try at the Mountain Lakes 2. Then, Fitzsimmons’ pass attempt was broken up by Elliott with 9:36 left in the game.
Quarterback Matt Sims, who completed 7-of-13 passes for 73 yards and a touchdown and added 36 carries for 171 yards, was nearly all of the offense for Brearley (10-1). The senior threw or ran the ball on a whopping 91 percent of his team’s offensive plays and accounted for all but one yard of his squad’s total offense in the game.
“Last week, we should have been able to put Waldwick away and it was a battle,” said Fusco, whose defense held the Kenilworth school to a fraction of its 36-point average output this season. “This time, we knew we had to stop Sims. We take pride in being a defensive team.”
Mountain Lakes went 10-plays for an 80-yard drive on its initial possession to open the scoring. Jordan Hernando ran left for a 6-yard touchdown jaunt and Elliott ran for the two-point conversion as the Herd started 8-0 with 5:23 left in the game.
“We knew they always go for two points after scoring a touchdown,” Darrell Fusco said. “We had seven or eight two-point plays all ready to go if we needed them.”
Brearley responded with its own long drive on its ensuing possession. Sims found Fitzsimmons for a 17-yard touchdown connection with 8:30 remaining in the opening half. The two-point try was intercepted by Kevin Gillespie to keep the Herd up 8-6.
Gavin Ananian outjumped Fitzsimmons on a pass from Ben Miniter and strolled in from 45 yards out for the second touchdown Mountain Lakes with 4:21 left in the first half.
What it means
Mountain Lakes won its first sectional title since 2014. The Herd improves its all-time playoff record to 39-30 with the victory, while Brearley dropped to 22-19 in its ninth sectional final appearance. The Bears were hoping to capture their first crown since downing Hoboken 34-12 seven years ago.
Mountain Lakes faces Weequahic for the third time in two seasons. The teams split their series last year with the Indians getting the upper hand in the regular season matchup, while Mountain Lakes defeated the Essex County school in last year’s sectional semifinal.
Key play
With Sims guiding the Brearley offense deep in Mountain Lakes territory twice, the Herd offense stalled at its own 24 midway through the fourth quarter. Junior punter Justin Brennfleck unleashed a career-high 72-yard punt that rolled to the Bears’ 4.
“It felt good,” Brennfleck said. “To get that field position was huge for us. It really energized the crowd and our team.”
The kick silenced the Brearley fans as Brearley needed two scores and only had under six minutes for the daunting task. Sims, who was shaken up earlier in the game, couldn’t muster a final set of heroics as his last pass in his impressive career sailed incomplete on fourth-and-7 at midfield.
“We take pride in this. It’s hard to win sections,” Fusco said. “ I know Weequahic is going to be a handful but I’ll think about that on Monday.”
By the numbers
► Mountain Lakes was outgained 241 to 208 but key defensive stops helped the Herd secure the victory.
► Brearley’s undefeated season and 10-game winning streak came to an end with the loss. The Herd have won three straight since a 35-14 loss to Caldwell.
Game balls
► Ananian only had one catch but it was a difference-maker for the Herd. The senior tight end grabbed a pass from Miniter at the Bears’ 18 and went in for his team’s second touchdown and final points of the game.
► Sims had 244 yards of total offense in the game. The senior eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark for passing and rushing this season.
They said it
"It was a tough offseason after last year’s loss to Cedar Grove. It’s been such a fun ride.” – said Fusco, who notched a sectional title along with his 100th victory this season.
Up next
► Mountain Lakes (10-1) plays Weequahic (10-1) in a Group 1 semifinal next weekend.
► Brearley (10-1) ended its season.
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Mountain Lakes NJ football takes out Brearley to win sectional title
