Orecchio proves to be too much for Mainland in many ways and leads Old Tappan to the G3 title

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After a long weekend of good, old-American excess of food, shopping and sports on TV, Old Tappan served up its own share of excess on behalf of Alex Orecchio on Sunday.

After probably barely digesting his Thanksgiving dinner, the do-it-all senior scored three touchdowns in three different forms to lead No. 14 Old Tappan to a 28-16 victory over No. 16 Mainland for the NJSIAA Group 3 Championship at SHI Stadium in Piscataway.

Mainland (10-4) was seeking its second straight state championship after winning Group 4 last year and finishing the season 14-0.

Old Tappan moved downfield behind the passing combination of sophomore quarterback Anthony Miceli and senior wide receiver Alex Orecchio with limited success on its opening play.

In that nine-play, 80-yard series, they scored four times for 68 yards, the last on an 18-yard scoring play for a 7-0 lead with 7:50 left in the first quarter.

The Golden Knights got moving after a three-pointer by Mainland on their first possession, but that push was dashed by an interception in the end zone by senior Khaleeb Foster. He ran to the mainland 40-yard line.

The Mustangs immediately capitalized on this sudden change in momentum with a five-play, 60-yard march capped by a 39-yard pass from John Franchini to Jake Blum with 59 seconds left in the first period.

Blum, who entered the game with more than 1,200 yards receiving this season, reached high for the ball and hauled it in with a defender in tight coverage to tie the game at 7-7.

Mainland’s defense held firm on Old Tappan’s ensuing possession, forcing a three-pointer, but itself fell victim to an interception, causing a promising series to be dashed.

The Mustangs had advanced to the Old Tappan 27 when sophomore Leo Etter went down with a pick in the middle of the end zone, giving the Golden Knights the ball at their 20 with 8:34 left in the half. left space.

Mainland shook off that disappointment with another solid defensive effort, then took the ball just outside the red zone again before falling victim to a second interception. Sophomore Cristakis Nicolaou put that pass into the end zone with 1:51 left in the half.

Old Tappan reclaimed the lead he earned with the game’s first driver after Nicholas Blanchard caught a botched fair catch in the second half.

The Golden Knights began this half with the ball at the Mainland 44 and used 11 plays to take a 14-7 lead thanks to a 3-yard run by senior Alex Orecchio on a straight snap with 6:41 left in the half third quarter.

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To watch the full replay of this game, click Here.

Mike Kinney can be reached at [email protected] or via direct message Here.

Kevin Minnick can be reached at [email protected] or via direct message Here.

Ryan Patti can be reached at [email protected] or via direct message Here.

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