When Mark Walsh crossed the goal line, the Riverdale sideline exploded.
“He’s the type of kid when he has success everyone is happy for him,” coach Declan Walsh said.
The late score completed a wild fourth-quarter comeback to give the Falcons a thrilling 37-30 win over host Hackley in independent football Saturday. The 25-yard run, set up by a Jordan Dubin interception, helped give Riverdale the lead for good with 1:05 left to play. It completed a rally from a 30-14 deficit with 8:00 left to play in the game. Mark Walsh, a four-year starter, ran for 120 yards on 20 carries and had two receptions for 62 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown from Russell Johns. Mark Walsh also had interception.
“It was a great win for the kid,” Declan Walsh said. “I thought we played great in the second half.”
Johnson completed 12-of-22 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns. His 25-yard strike to Armando Perez got the Riverdale (2-0) comeback started. Jack Margolis, who also has an interception, took a short pass from Johnson 66 yards to the end zone to help tie the score at 30 with 4:00 left in the game. Perez caught four passes for 95 yards and collected two sacks. Riverdale hosts Bronx rival Fieldston 1 p.m. next Saturday.
Mount St. Michael 27, Kellenberg 0: Najae Brown recorded 123 yards of total offense, including two touchdowns and 87 yards in the air for Mount St. Michael (1-0, 1-0) in CHSFL Class AAA. He also ran for a 6-yard touchdown to cap the scoring. The senior connected with Javon Parks for a 25-yard score and Richard Harris for a 60-yard TD down the sideline. Daniel Santos had two interceptions and Chris Fabian had one. Mount, which hosts Chaminade next Saturday also recovered a fumble on a punt. Kellenberg, which hosts Stepinac Friday night, is 1-1, 0-1.
“I think the two touchdown passes were a culmination of all the good that took place,” Mount coach Mario Valentini said for Brown’s first varsity start.
St. Peter’s 24, Cardinal Spellman 14: Billy Triglianos threw for 139 yards and a score on 14-for-23 passing for St. Peter’s (1-0, 1-0) in CHSFL AA-A. Dan Low rushed for 40 yards and a touchdown on seven carries and caught three passes for 11 yards. Dom Bertucci ran for 81 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. James O’Neil added an interception.
Sean Marcano completed 6-of-10 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns for Spellman (1-1, 0-1). John Alba and Devanta Hobson each caught touchdown passes for 60 yards. The Eagles travel to play St. Francis Prep on Saturday night. Spellman hosts St. John the Baptist that afternoon.
Iona Prep 31, St. Joseph by the Sea 0: Shaquille Townsend rushed for 116 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns and Mario Biaggi was 9-of-11 passing for two touchdowns to lead Iona (1-0 AAA, 2-0), which hosts Monsignor Farrell next week. Christopher Cooper had both touchdown catches from Biaggi. Nick King ran for 74 yards on 23 carries for Sea (0-1 AAA, 1-1). The Vikings host Xaverian in Week 3.
INDEPENDENT
Moore Catholic 31, South Shore 20: Jomanta Broady rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns on six carries for Moore Catholic (2-0) in an independent game Friday night. Justin Ortiz picked up 78 yards on eight carries. Nick Imburgia added two scores. South Shore is 1-1.
Nazareth 18, Hudson Catholic (N.J.) 12: Aaron Henderson ran for 104 yards on eight carries, scored a touchdown and also had an interception, Anthony Richards added two interceptions and Brandon Townsend also scored for Nazareth (2-0).
OTHER SCORES
Peddie School (N.J.) 28, Poly Prep 27
Additional reporting by Marc Raimondi and Zach Braziller