Bernards Falls to Madison in State Football Semifinal

Sporting a single loss coming into the North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 semifinal game, Bernards High School ran into a team that hasn't lost in years.

Madison continued its streak with a 46-21 win Saturday without throwing a single pass.

Madison was clearly the class of the day rushing for 429 yards, 183 coming on 12 carries by quarterback Carson Lassiter.

"We go with what the defense gives us," Lassiter said. "We never go in with a set plan wether we are going to run or pass, we just react to what the defense gives us. Today our line was opening up holes and our backs were hitting them hard so that is what we went with."

Bernards was led by quarterback Devin Ray, who went 16 for 32 passing for 270 yards and two touchdowns. John Maddalina made 7 catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns.

"It is like going back home," Lassiter said about going to the championship, their third trip in three years. "It is all we have been talking about, just getting by this team and making it back to where we belong."

"We took our lumps," Bernards coach Jon Simoneau said. "We didn't have the depth. What separates this group from every other is this group stayed together. As a coach I have to figure out how I keep kids in when kids are leaving every day from the Bernardsville train station. There are kids that start at Bergen Catholic, Immaculata, Pingry, Seton Hall Prep and Delbarton and we have to figure out how to keep these guys here. There are great football players that live in our town, we just have to figure out how to keep them there. These guys created a pretty electric atmosphere at Bernards High School. We moved the ball inside today, our line did a great job. It just didn't shake out. Their hearts are ripped out right now and they don't want to hear it, but they changed football in their town." 

Madison will face unbeaten Mountain Lakes next Saturday at Kean University, Union, at 10 a.m.