Highlanders’ football finishes with win

The West Milford High School football team beat Warren Hills High School last Wednesday night by a final score of 30-21, ending its season.

It was the final game of the season for the Highlanders after failing to qualify for the playoffs.

The victory gave the team a record of 5-5 for the year.

West Milford started its finale strong, taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter off of two rushing touchdowns.

Quarterback Dylan Connors and running back Joshua Curving were the Highlanders who scored in the opening period.

From there, however, things got interesting as the Blue Streaks responded with two unanswered touchdowns of their own in the second quarter to tie it up at the half.

West Milford would answer in the third, kicking a field goal to retake the lead before Connors ran it in for another touchdown.

After the team’s unsuccessful extra point attempt, that made the score 23-14 at the start of the fourth.

Warren Hills responded with a touchdown once again, but Highlander Curving was able to get his second rushing touchdown of the game in the final quarter to solidify the win.

Curving finished with a team-high 125 yards on just four carries to go along with his two touchdowns, while fellow running back Joe Palmentieri wasn’t far behind with 91 yards on his 17 carries.

Connors added another 47 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, while going 7-of-14 in the air for 87 yards.

Senior Joseph Heisler led West Milford in tackles with nine, while Connors and Seamus McGuinnes each had an interception in the game.

Going into the season finale, Head Coach Steve Maslanek had said that a win would give the Highlanders its best two consecutive years since the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

Now, the program will look to build on its success next season.