HILLSDALE—Last Friday night, the Pascack Valley Panthers and River Dell Golden Hawks squared off once again to settle who would take home the coveted 2024 Rumble for the Rail trophy.
The answer: Panthers, by a bruising 35-7, and at this point par for the course. Friday’s home-field victory is the third consecutive win for our boys in this eagerly anticipated contest, named for the Pascack Valley rail line running from Hillsdale to Oradell. It’s been fiercely fought over the decades, and in this go-around sparks flew anew.
Junior quarterback Adam Shaw (#10) led the PV offense in a career-best performance, completing 9 of 11 passes for 175 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for 97 yards and adding a touchdown on the ground. River Dell’s defense had no answer for Shaw as he helped the Panthers rack up 28 points in the first half alone.
River Dell attempted to shut down PV’s running game, knowing that senior RB Kevin Regula (#25) averages close to 100 yards per game. However, this opened the door for PV’s potent aerial attack. Junior WR Dante DaCosta (#1) and senior WR Michael Fronzaglia (#4) combined for 163 yards and two touchdowns each, delivering highlight-reel catches throughout the night.
The Panthers, who have now scored 125 points in their last three games, were also buoyed by their defense, which has allowed only 21 points during that span. Senior LB and team captain Dante Ricardi (#51) continues to anchor the defense, tallying three solo tackles, seven assisted tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in the game.
River Dell’s quarterbacks were under constant pressure all night, with nowhere to escape thanks to the relentless pursuit by Pascack Valley’s defense. Senior DL Shane Burke (#50), junior DE Colin McMorrow (#6), and junior DB Marley Smith (#11) all recorded sacks, consistently collapsing the pocket and forcing hurried throws.
When River Dell attempted to go deep, junior DB Marc Dellaquila (#16) made them pay, delivering a highlight-worthy one-handed interception that shut down their passing game. The interception was a clear sign of PV’s secondary dominance, as they anticipated and capitalized on River Dell’s desperation.
In a true team effort, 20 PV players contributed tackles, showcasing the depth and cohesion of the defense. From the defensive line to the secondary, the Panthers worked like a well-oiled machine, neutralizing River Dell’s offensive attempts and securing yet another dominant performance.
We sit down with Coach Cusumano
We had to get head coach Len Cusumano’s take on this latest win — how it came together and what it means moving forward:
Q. This past week your team continued to show a balanced attack, both on offense and defense. River Dell seemed to make it a point to try and stop Regula, who has been averaging close to 100 yards on the ground a game, so Shaw showed his dual-threat abilities. What can you say about Shaw, a junior, and his receiver core that answered back at RD’s stacking the box?
A. Adam has continually worked hard on getting better at his craft. He’s worked alongside our offensive coordinator, Bill Weigel, on improving his skills both on and off the field. His film study has also benefited him in reading coverages and taking advantage of the solid group of receivers he has at his disposal in Dante DaCosta, Mike Fronzaglia, Ashton Kazinci, and Marc Dellaquila.
Q. On defense your team has only let up 21 points in the last three games. This past game twenty different players had tackles, led by Ricardi who had 10 total tackles, a sack and forced fumble. Burke, McMorrow and Smith also had sacks and Dellaquila had a nice pick when the QB tried to go deep. Can you reflect on how this team—the defense in particular—has gotten to this point where so many players are stepping up as one unit.
A. Our defense has been able to be consistent in their ability to line up properly and execute their job at a high level. Our defensive coordinator, Adam Preciado, does a great job of putting our players in the best position possible to make plays. We have a group of players on defense that take pride in getting to the football and being great tacklers. The defensive scheme requires everyone to do their job at a high level in order to be in position to make a play.
Q. There is no way around asking you about this week’s matchup. The No. 11 and No. 2 teams in the conference are meeting up in the last game of the regular season to determine the champion. Can you articulate how you’re approaching this game and how you’re going to prepare the team to handle such an intense matchup?
A. We’ll approach this game with a business-like approach as always. We must continue to get better in practice in order to execute at a high level on Friday night. Our team understands that every game is a big game no matter who the opponent is. Our goal every week is to go 1–0. This week is no different.
Now standing at 6-1, the Panthers will face their toughest challenge of the season this Friday as they take on undefeated Old Tappan (7-0) for the division championship. The game kicks off at 6 p.m. at Pascack Valley High School.