North Jersey team earns first playoff win in decades on goal-line stop

Teaneck waited nearly two decades for a home playoff game.The Highwaymen weren't about to let it slip away.Senior quarterback Jayden Castro threw three touchdown passes and No. 4 seed Teaneck survived on a late goal-line stop to defeat No. 5 Garfield, 21-20, in the North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals Friday night. It gave Teaneck the program’s first playoff victory since 2006.The win continues a remarkable turnaround for Teaneck (7-2), which was one of the last teams left out of the state playoffs a year ago and spend the 2022 and 2023 seasons in the developmental Ivy Division.But Teaneck coach Cekuan James had to sweat out the finish.Garfield got back within one when Jorheny Rodriguez scored on a 1-yard run, his third touchdown of the night, with 1:08 remaining. Rather than kick the extra point, Garfield went for two and the lead. Quarterback Talib McCullough rolled right looking for the winning conversion, but Teaneck's defense swarmed to stop him short and preserve a 21-20 advantage.An ensuing onside kick sailed out of bounds before traveling 10 yards, allowing Teaneck to kneel out the clock in its first playoff game since 2017.The teams traded scores throughout the first half.Teaneck got on the board when Castro connected with Aidan Talley for a 22-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-7 in the first quarter. The Highwaymen tied the score again at 14 with Castro lofting a 10-yard touchdown pass over the middle to Malakai Johnson with 4:48 left before halftime.The Highwaymen seized momentum early in the second half.Teaneck recovered a Garfield fumble at the visitors' 40-yard line on the opening possession of the third quarter. One play later, Castro found Talley streaking down the left sideline for a 40-yard touchdown strike and a 21-14 lead with 10:55 remaining in the quarter.That proved to be the decisive score and helped Teaneck match its highest win total since 2023.Teaneck improved to 6-1 in the all-time series against Garfield.*Check back later for updates.*This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: North Jersey team earns first playoff win in decades on goal-line stop