Hope for a North 1, Group 2 state finals football game at MetLife Stadium died as Glen Rock’s extra point kick gave Glen Rock a 35-34 victory over the Bears in an overtime battle on the Glen Rock field, Saturday, November 21.

The No. 4 Bears won the first playoff game against No. 5 Sussex County Tech 38-13, setting them up to play No. 1 Glen Rock in the semi-finals. Although the Bears held the lead the majority of the time in the back-and-forth struggle, when it came to OT they weren’t able to secure their spot in Metlife for the championship game of their division. (The Bears have not played in a sectional final since 1987.)

This kick-to-the gut loss does not diminish the strong Bears 2015 football season. Going into the state playoffs, the Bears were on a seven-game winning streak, scoring 34.4 points a game, behind the power of senior QB Ryan Vander Werf (986 rushing yards, 13 rushing TDs, eight TD passes) and senior RB Abdullah Elailla (908 rushing yards, 12 TDs). The Bears ended with a record of 8-2, beating Lodi (34-8), Lyndhurst(31-21), New Milford (29-7), Pompton Lakes (19-14), Elmwood Park (47-6), Harrison (41-14), Palisades Park (36-14), and Sussex County Tech (38-13). Throughout the season the Bears scored 327 points overall, having only 173 points scored against them—76 of those points being from Glen Rock.

The 2015 Bears team is one that has set the bar high in talent, effort, and heart. Congrats to the players and coaches on a outstanding run.