Games like this are why Old Tappan is the top-ranked team in North Jersey. The Golden Knights edged Northern Highlands 30-24 on Friday night in a back-and-forth thriller that was not decided until the final seconds, improving to 7-0 and strengthening their hold on the race for the top seed in North Group 3. When the game demanded a hero in the last two minutes, Old Tappan's quarterback became one.
Senior Zach Miceli had a hand in all four Golden Knights touchdowns. He threw for two and ran for two, finishing 12-of-16 for 190 yards through the air and adding 62 yards on the ground — 252 yards of total offense. With 1:27 left and his team trailing, Miceli found Crosby Levine all alone for a 33-yard touchdown pass that put Old Tappan ahead 28-24, then added a two-point conversion pass to Shane Small for the final margin. That is a senior quarterback authoring the ending himself.
Levine's winning catch capped a night of big plays from the Golden Knights' receivers. Leo Etter caught five passes for 90 yards and a touchdown, and his long kickoff return right after Northern Highlands took a 24-22 lead put Old Tappan in position for the game-winning drive. Every time the Highlanders swung momentum their way, somebody in an Old Tappan uniform swung it right back — Levine, Etter and Miceli took turns being that somebody.
Championship teams are the ones that win the games that could go either way, and 7-0 Old Tappan keeps winning exactly those. A perfect record, a comeback on the road against a 4-3 rival, and a quarterback playing the best football of his career — the Golden Knights' season keeps reaching for something special.
Stars of the Game: Zach Miceli, the Closer, with two touchdown passes, two rushing touchdowns and 252 total yards, including the game-winner with 1:27 left. Crosby Levine, the Go-Ahead Hero, scorer of the winning 33-yard touchdown. And Leo Etter, the Momentum Man, with five catches for 90 yards, a score and the kickoff return that set up the winning drive.
Game details compiled from published box scores.