FOOTBALL: Butler Downs Hopatcong in 2OT

Not exactly how Hopatcong hoped to head into the state playoffs.

After a taking a big lead early, the Chiefs couldn't hold off Butler, losing 35-29 on the road in double overtime on Thursday night, according to NJ.com. No. 7 Hopatcong (6-3) will travel to second-seeded Ramsey in the North 1, Group 2 first round next Saturday.

The Chiefs appeared to have the game under control heading into halftime with a 22-7 lead. But the Bulldogs (7-1) exploded for 15 unanswered points in the third quarter on 70-yard touchdown pass from Chris Heredia and a Mike Tenned 20-yard interception return.

That set the stage for the first OT. Dan Meusel's 25-yard TD rush gave Hopatcong a 29-22 advantage. The Chiefs just had to stop Butler on the next possession. But Heredia's 7-yard run tied things up again, forcing a second frame before Tenned's 2-yard touchdown run put things away.

Hopatcong, which missed school all week, seemed well-rested in the first half. After Vinny Marinoni's 25-yard field goal gave the Chiefs a 3-0 first-quarter lead, Meusel hauled in Ryan Clarke's 25-yard bomb for a 10-point cushion.

Things got even better for the Chiefs in the second quarter. A.J. Bongiovanni's 60-yard pick-six landed Hopatcong a 17-3 advantage. And after a Tenned 14-yard touchdown dash, Bongiovanni struck again, this time racing 30 yards for an interception return touchdown.

But when halftime left, so did any Hopatcong advantage.