Spartans Win Opener

On a night where they weren’t at their best, the football team still found a way to defeat Northern Highlands.

“We didn’t come out and click tonight the way we’re capable of,” Paramus head coach Dan Sabella said.

With time winding down, Paramus quarterback Mike Bussanich uncorked a deep pass to a wide-open Joe Rizzitello to score the winning touchdown as the Spartans, 14-7 victors, picked up their first win of the season.

The Spartan wide outs routinely beat the Highlander safeties, so Rizzitello knew with his speed that he could get open and score.

“Once I saw [Bussanich] throw the ball,” Rizzitello said, “I knew I was going to catch it and get in the end zone.

“That play was nuts,” said Bussanich, who admitted the game-winning drive was a blur, as the senior signal caller was caught up in the moment.

Paramus sealed the win on the ensuing kick off by forcing a fumble, which was recovered by Mike Urban, and running out the clock.

Paramus (1-0) held Northern Highlands scoreless into the fourth quarter before Highlanders quarterback Ryan Johnson rushed for his team’s lone TD.

Sabella preached defense all offseason long, and the unit played a terrific game, making two goal line stands—highlighted by sophomore corner Darius House’s interception—and forcing a fumble.

“Without that, we don’t win the game," Sabella said.

“I credit the defense,” said Bussanich, who threw for 111 yards. “They kept us in the game.”

Paramus broke the scoreless tie in the second quarter on a one-yard rush by Chris Durante, who finished with 84 yards on the ground.

“We played a little better in the second half,” said Rizzitello, who had 74 receiving yards. “But we still didn’t play our best."

“This is going to be kind of a tough one to enjoy, because we’ve looked a lot better than that in the preseason," Sabella said. “Take nothing away from Northern Highlands; I thought they played exceptional. They played a great game. We had some self-inflicted breakdowns.”

Up next for Paramus is a rematch of last year’s North 1, Group 3 semifinal, as the Spartans take on Old Tappan (0-1), which lost to Pascack Valley 30-28, and quarterback Devin Fuller, one of the best players in the state.