The No. 7-seeded Rams fell to the No. 3-seeded Ramapo 42-27 in the first round of the Group 4, Section 1 North playoffs on Nov. 1, ending the Rams’ 2024 season.
“The mindset going into this game was to give 110% until the final whistle, no matter what,” junior Nick Forde said.
Ramapo’s up-tempo offense challenged the Rams all night. However, on Ramapo’s opening drive, sophomore Matt Skrapits ripped the ball away from a Raiders receiver, giving the Rams an early opportunity to strike first.
The Rams offense, led by junior quarterback Jackson Magley, seized the momentum. Magley launched a deep pass to junior Mason Wilson, who took it all the way for a touchdown, putting Randolph up 7-0.
Ramapo quickly answered with a passing touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. After a Rams punt, Randolph’s defense held strong, regaining possession.
Driving downfield with a steady offensive push, the Rams relied on senior running back Gideon Ochieng. Magley ran a quarterback draw into the red zone to close out the first quarter. However, the Rams turned the ball over on downs and missed the chance to extend their lead.
Ramapo’s fast-paced offense continued to push, taking a 14-7 lead.
Determined to tie the game, Magley connected with junior Joey Sommer on a double move down the sideline, putting Randolph at the 10-yard line. On fourth-and-short, Magley rolled right, then reversed the field to find Wilson for a touchdown, narrowing the score to 14-13.
Ramapo’s offense surged back, capitalizing on a seam route to extend their lead to 21-13.
A solid stand by Ramapo’s defense forced a punt from junior Logan Hankin. The Raiders then found an open receiver along the sideline, widening the gap to 28-13. Following a Rams turnover, the Raiders capitalized again with a goal-line touchdown, sending the game into halftime with a commanding 35-13 lead.
Ramapo carried that momentum into the second half, scoring another touchdown to make it 42-13.
The Rams responded with a determined drive, capped by an Ochieng touchdown, cutting the deficit to 42-20.
Randolph refused to back down, with Wilson beating his defender on a post route and hauling in another pass from Magley, bringing the final score to 42-27.
With the season concluded, the Rams turn their focus to offseason training, aiming to come back stronger next year.
“We need to stay in the weight room and buy into the culture,” said junior Joey Bosotina, reflecting on what the Rams need to focus on for a successful 2025 season.
