Mastroiani Leads Panthers to First Win

The football team celebrated homecoming Friday night when it hosted rival Ridge at Basilone Field. The Panthers took home their first victory of the season with a 25-14 win.

For a full photo gallery from Friday night's victory, head here.

For a look at how the seniors enjoyed homecoming festivities and Spirit Week, head here.

IN SHORT

Quarterback Ray Mastroianni opened up the scoring in the first quarter with a two-yard run. Nick Norcia added the extra point. In the second quarter, JD Moore scored for Ridge on a five-yard run. Holder Mike Hilss took the high snap and ran the ball wide left and scored the 2-point conversion.

At halftime, the homecoming court was introduced to the crowd. Announced at the homecoming dance, the queen was Jenn Uno and the king was Mike Dipascali.

In the second half, Bridgewater added another touchdown with a 25-yard run from Mastroianni, but the 2-point conversion attempt failed. Set up by a 50-yard run from Mike Hilss, Ridge scored on a one-yard pass from quarterback Conor Hughes to JD Moore. A 2-point conversion attempted pass failed to convert.

In the fourth quarter, Panther Julian Dorsey scored on a five-yard run. As Ridge marched down the field and with less than nine minutes on the clock, Conor Hughes put up a pass in the middle and was picked off by Mastroianni that he took 85 yards to put the finishing touch on the game.

PANTHER OF THE GAME

Ray Mastroianni, quarterback–Mastroianni scored three touchdowns, including an 85-yard interception return. He was 8 of 14 passing for 78 yards and had 46 yards on six carries.

TOP PANTHER OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES
PASSING: Mastroianni (8 of 14 for 78 yards)
RUSHING: Dorsey (25 carries for 201 yards and a TD)
RECEIVING: Solomon (5 catches for 49 yards)

TOP PANTHER DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCES

TUNROVERS: Mastroianni (interception and 85-yard return for a touchdown)

THEY SAID IT

"The first win is great. I am proud of these guys. They've kept their heads up. They come to play every week. We just kept telling them that if you keep doing it will happen. Our motto this week was 'Payday.' You work so hard over the course of the year you have to make a payday for yourself so why not tonight. And they went out and did it. I am so very proud of them."–Bridgewater head coach Scott Bray

"We just been preaching we don't care about the record, let's play for pride. And that is what we did tonight. Everybody's fired up. We are not a bunch a kids who are going to sit down and let a team walk over us. It shows a lot about the character of this team. In our minds, we are 1-0. And that is all that matters.  (About the interception and 85 yard run for a TD) Coach called my number, I normally don't play defense that much and I just played my zone. Our 'D' line did a great job tonight and they forced their quarterback to throw and I saw it coming and went for it."–Ray Mastroianni

Up Next-The Panthers play host to Phillipsburg Friday at 7 p.m.