SPORTS WRAP
BY WILLIAM HATHAWAY, JR.
PHOTOS BY FELICIA LAGUERRE OWENS
The New Jersey high school football season is in full effect, as there was another week of good football by local Essex County area teams. Of course, the surprise team this season is the Orange High School Tornadoes, who have started the season well at 4-1. OHS seems to be the local version of the Miami Dolphins, as they won another high scoring game 50-37 over the previously undefeated Barringer Bears. Senior quarterback Maurice Williams, who broke the Orange High for most touchdowns in one game at the start of the season, racked up 326 passing yards and 5 TDs, along with 100 yards on the ground. Senior Makay Acey hauled in 3 TDs.
Weequahic High is an impressive 4-0 record, after a Dolphin-like 69-0 win over Central. Paul Jones was 6-7 in the air for WHS with 145 yards, but it was a group effort all around. Leroy Singleton had a TD, 32 yards, Darrell Barrow had a TD, 43 yards, Elijah motley had a TD, 51 yards, and Rashawn Marshall had 102 yards.
West Orange has not had the easiest time coming off state honors, with a 35-27 loss to Mount Olive. The Mountaineers are now 1-3 on the season. Meanwhile, East Orange is looking to get back to its dominant ways, as the Jaguars Bloomfield 41-6. Kyree Fisher led the Jags with 197 passing and 2 TDs, along with 108 yards rushing. Shakur Taylor had 116 yards and 2 TDs and Saeed Cole had a TD. East Orange as a team tallied 270 yards on offense.
The Irvington Knights have struggled out of the gate, now sitting at 2-3 after a tough home loss to Seton Hall Prep 23-12. Prep was led by Michael Dunmore’s 100 yards rushing and 2 TDs. Nacir Ransom threw a 46 yard touchdown pass to Zakaa Brown, and later for a 37 yard TD. Sophomore Ransom finished the game 14 of 25 for 225 yards. Meanwhile, Caldwell High is still a juggernaut in Essex County with its 32 game winning streak.
In other sports, the Jets lost a heartbreaker at home to New England 15-10. While Gang Green has trouble scoring, the Miami Dolphins do not, as they beat up Denver 70-20. Finally, New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart has been named 2023 WNBA MVP.
