Watchung Hills Ends Football Season with Thanksgiving Eve Win

Watchung Hills Regional Warriors played a rescheduled final season game at Ridge's Lee Field, a game that was originally was set to be played the Friday after Hurricane Sandy, when power remained out at all of the district schools. The game played on Wednesday included a food drive with the cooperation of both teams to aid N.J. families still affected by Sandy.

Watchung Hills took the lead early in this past game by scoring first on a short run, followed by a missed PAT. Ridge senior Evan Skea followed up by scoring on a 9-yard run follow by a Conor Hughes PAT. 

Watchung Hills then posted that team's second touchdown of the first quarter with a 56-yard run, then successfully scoring a 2 point conversion. The 14-7 tally held steady into the third quarter when Watchung Hills scored on a 25-yard run and followed it with a PAT.

In the fourth quarter, Ridge mounted a comeback on a reception by Ryan Bell and a 18-yard run by Conor Hughes, with PATs from Hughes tying the score at 21-21.

But Watchung Hills would score their fourth TD of the night, and even failing to make the PAT brought the visitors up to a lead of 27-21.

Ridge mounted a incredible comeback charge as time ran out, the last play from scrimmage coming with just 1 second on the clock. Ridge ended the night, and their last 3 games of the season, with a loss.  

Game touchdowns came from Skea, Hughes and Bell. Senior Skea finished the season with 969 rushing yards in 2012.

"It was tough," Skea said afterward. "It came down to a couple plays, a couple calls, a couple things that could have gone our way. It was a close game, hard fought on both sides. Both teams deserved it."

"Tough game" was also the observation of Ridge Head Coach Bill Tracy. "They have a good team. It is just the way it is. It is unfortunate, but we did the best we could."