GARFIELD, NJ — Conference semifinals are supposed to be tight. Jorheny Rodriguez turned Garfield's into a personal highlight reel. The running back scored five touchdowns on Friday night as Garfield beat Hasbrouck Heights 36-14 in the NJIC semifinals, and along the way he passed 1,000 rushing yards for the season. Five touchdowns in the biggest game of the year is why he is our Football Athlete of the Week.
FOUR ON THE GROUND, ONE THROUGH THE AIR
Rodriguez scored four of his five touchdowns rushing, the kind of ground performance that wears a defense down carry after carry. He ran six yards for a touchdown and a 21-7 lead, then showed the other half of his game late in the quarter, catching a 27-yard screen pass from quarterback Talib McCullough to make it 28-7. After a safety stretched Garfield's lead further, Rodriguez closed the scoring himself with a five-yard touchdown run — his fifth trip to the end zone of the night.
A SEASON MILESTONE, EARNED IN OCTOBER
The five-touchdown night carried a milestone inside it: Rodriguez went over 1,000 rushing yards for the season in the semifinal. Reaching four figures is a full season of excellence, not one hot evening — and doing it while scoring five times in a conference semifinal is the mark of a back who saves his best for when it matters most. With McCullough able to find him out of the backfield as well as hand him the ball, Garfield's offense has a centerpiece every defense must stop. On Friday, nobody could.
ONE MORE FOR THE TROPHY
Now Garfield plays for a championship: the Boilermakers host Waldwick/Midland Park in the NJIC Championship on Oct. 23. Teams that peak in October behind a star playing his best football are dangerous in finals, and Garfield's run to the title game has become a story the whole program can be proud of.
Five touchdowns, a thousand yards, and a final still to play — Jorheny Rodriguez gave Garfield a night it will never forget.
Game details compiled from published box scores.