Red Bank Catholic outlasts DePaul for New Jersey state championship: Live updates recap
Stanford commit Emmanuel Ross punctuated a Red Bank Catholic win over DePaul on Tuesday with a backflip in victory formation for a New Jersey high school football state title.
Red Bank Catholic (10-1) avenged its loss last season to DePaul (6-6) to once again become the NJSIAA Non-Public B high school football champions with a 14-7 win Tuesday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
All of the scoring in the championship game took place in the first half, with the second turning into a punt fest.
But junior quarterback Frankie Williams did just enough to lead Red Bank Catholic to the win.
Read below for a live-updates recap from the Non-Public B championship game.
FINAL: Red Bank Catholic 14, DePaul 7
FOURTH QUARTER UPDATES
TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Zammit re-enters the game and throws a Hail Mary, but it's broken up by the Caseys' defense. RBC goes into victory formation leading 14-7.
Third and 25 for DePaul after backup QB Gavin Bickford gets sacked. 38 seconds left.
Big fourth-down conversion for Nolan James and then a catch by De'zie Jones has DePaul on the RBC 30 with a minute left. But QB Derek Zammit just had to be helped off the field with an injury.
DePaul has about a minute and a half to go 66 yards to tie this game after nearly blocking the punt.
RBC has a first-down run by Frankie Williams negated by a holding penalty, and the Caseys have to punt with 1:49 left in the game, leading 14-7.
Two first downs on the ground leaning on Luke Wassef and RBC is in very good shape, first and 10 on its own 40 with less than four minutes left.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Emmanuel Ross with a big pass breakup in the end zone to get the ball back to RBC on its own 16, 6:49 left leading 14-7.
Big fourth and 10 coming up for DePaul at the RBC 16, 6:55 left.
Great field position for DePaul after yet another punt. Spartans ball on the 50 with 11:07 left.
It'll be second and 5 for RBC from its own 20, Caseys leading 14-7.
THIRD QUARTER UPDATES
On to the fourth!
Quarter has been a punt fest. Teams trading empty possessions and it's RBC ball on its own 15 with 35 seconds left, leading 14-7.
DePaul has a Mason James touchdown called back by a false start penalty and then has to punt. RBC ball on its own 5 with 5:36 left in the half, leading 14-7.
Dream start for DePaul. Two penalties and a Logan Monteyne sack force a fourth and long for RBC, which has to punt. DePaul ball at its own 41 with 9:09 left in the quarter. RBC up 14-7.
One half of football to go! Red Bank Catholic starts on its own 32.
SECOND QUARTER UPDATES
DePaul gets one first down and then is content to run out the clock and wait for the second half. It's Red Bank Catholic leading 14-7 at halftime.
DePaul's Josh Turner gets a sack and tackle for loss on back-to-back plays to set up fourth and 5 for RBC with 1:47 left. Red Bank Catholic punts, and DePaul makes a fair catch at its own 2. Oops.
Big sack by DePaul's Anthony Nittoli sets up third and long for RBC, but Frankie Williams makes a tough throw to Luke Krzyzkowski to get to midfield.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS! RBC gets it back on its own 34 after Zammit's fourth-and-5 pass falls incomplete. Still 14-7 RBC, 5:28 left in the half.
What a play! Derek Zammit throws back to Nolan James, who throws forward to Zammit, who takes off for a big gain into RBC territory. 6:16 left.
TOUCHDOWN CASEYS! Luke Wassef grabs a 12-yard TD pass from a scrambling Frankie Williams after a pass interference call set it up. It's 14-7 Red Bank Catholic with 8:12 left in the half.
Luke Wassef starts the quarter with a big run to flip the field. RBC at the DePaul 42.
FIRST QUARTER UPDATES
Frankie Williams ran 13 yards to pick up the first down, and then a big Emmanuel Ross run got wiped out by a holding penalty. First quarter ends 7-7 with RBC at its own 41-yard line.
Third and 10 upcoming for RBC after a three-and-out by DePaul, 1:05 left.
TOUCHDOWN CASEYS! Stanford commit Emmanuel Ross grabs a 24-yard touchdown catch to make it 7-6. False start on the extra point but it's still good. We're tied 7-7 with 3:05 left.
Caseys already into DePaul territory after a couple of big Luke Wassef runs and a roughing the passer penalty. 3:40 left in the quarter.
TOUCHDOWN SPARTANS! Derek Zammit sneaks in from a yard out on fourth down for the score. It's 7-0 DePaul with 5:31 left. Impressive, balanced opening drive for the Spartans.
Nolan James with a 23-yard catch on fourth and 11! First and goal DePaul at the RBC 5, 7:25 left.
Big third and 9 coming up for DePaul on the RBC 26 with 8:23 left in the quarter.
DePaul looks deep on the first offensive play for junior Elijah Burress (son of Plaxico) and gets a 15-yard pass interference call.
We're underway! DePaul starts at its own 32 in 33-degree weather.
PREGAME UPDATES
Red Bank Catholic wins the toss and defers to the second half. DePaul will start with the ball.
NJ high school football playoffs: How to watch, get live updates - NJSIAA State Championships
(Red Bank Catholic-DePaul file photo by Peter Ackerman / USA Today Network)
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-- Mike Swanson | swanson@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports
