FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. — Irvington football is continuing to build something special under head coach Marco Soto. On a cold, foggy and rain-soaked Friday night, the Blue Knights delivered an impressive performance against top-seeded Ramapo, earning a hard-fought 28-21 victory in the second round of the North 1, Group 5 playoffs.
Irvington established control early, building a commanding 28-3 halftime advantage before surviving a furious second-half rally by the Raiders. When the final seconds expired, the Blue Knights had secured one of their biggest victories of the season and moved another step closer to a sectional championship.
For Soto, the victory carried additional meaning beyond advancing in the postseason. It represented an opportunity to demonstrate that the program’s identity and direction remain intact following the departure of former coach Ashley Pierre, known as Smoke.
“It’s personal, because a lot of people back at home saying we didn’t have any vision here since Smoke left,” Soto said. “We’re the same program. I made it a point to keep the family together, and here we are.”
The Blue Knights (7-4) backed up their coach’s confidence with an outstanding first-half performance on both sides of the football.
Quarterback Justin Spellman helped establish the offensive momentum, throwing two touchdown passes while using his mobility to extend plays and pick up important first downs. Spellman finished 7-of-17 passing for 134 yards.
Irvington’s defense also played a significant role in creating separation, limiting Ramapo’s opportunities and forcing the Raiders to settle for a field goal after an early scoring threat.
Ramapo initially appeared ready to dictate the tempo. The Raiders moved the football down to the Irvington 6-yard line on their opening possession, but Soto called a timeout to regroup his defense.
Whatever was communicated during that stoppage clearly resonated with the Blue Knights.
Soto challenged his players to respond physically and play with the intensity they had demonstrated throughout the season.
“It was let’s man up,” Soto explained. “This is what we work for. This is why we have been in the weight room. This is why we stay late and get there early. This is why.”
Irvington responded by shutting down the Raiders’ opening threat and eventually putting together 28 unanswered points to take control of the contest.
Ramapo Makes a Late Push
Despite trailing by 25 points at halftime, Ramapo (6-4) refused to surrender.
The Raiders found their offensive rhythm after the break, with wide receiver Cole Seyffer becoming a major factor in the passing game. Seyffer finished with five receptions for 96 yards, all coming in the second half, including a touchdown catch that helped fuel the comeback attempt.
Jack Schneider also delivered a critical reception followed by an impressive run, bringing Ramapo inside the Irvington 20-yard line with less than a minute remaining.
The Raiders suddenly had an opportunity to complete an improbable comeback and potentially force overtime.
Facing fourth-and-10, Ramapo attempted a quarterback throwback pass to Luke Magerko. However, Leonidas Williams made the decisive defensive play, delivering a hit that forced Magerko out of bounds several yards short of the first-down marker.
Irvington’s defense had made its final stand.
Malachi Mills also played an important role defensively, recording four tackles and coming up with a critical late sack of Magerko during Ramapo’s final possession.
The Blue Knights survived the comeback and secured their place in the sectional final.
Soto Emphasizes Program’s Growth
The victory was particularly meaningful considering Irvington’s previous meeting with Ramapo.
The Blue Knights suffered a 35-0 defeat against the Raiders in 2025. Soto acknowledged that his decision to schedule challenging competition was intentional, believing his young players needed to experience adversity to develop.
He wanted his team to understand what it takes to compete against established programs.
Looking back, Soto believes those difficult experiences helped prepare Irvington for Friday night’s opportunity.
He also credited his coaching influences, including Tony Karcich, for reinforcing the importance of continued improvement regardless of a team’s recent success.
Soto understands that reaching the next round does not mean the work is finished.
“There are always more things to clean up,” he said, emphasizing that the Blue Knights are still developing and have plenty of room to improve.
Guttuso Praises Ramapo’s Young Players
For Ramapo head coach Nick Guttuso, the disappointing elimination did not overshadow his appreciation for the effort and commitment shown by his players throughout the season.
The Raiders dealt with numerous injuries and significant personnel changes, including 11 new offensive starters and eight new defensive starters.
Guttuso also pointed out that one player made his first career start in the playoff matchup.
“As a competitor, it’s disappointing, but I have nothing but great things to say about these kids, all the injuries that we have had this year,” Guttuso said. “I have 11 new starters on offense, eight on defense, I had a kid who got his first start tonight. We’re very young. We are very much looking forward to the future.”
Guttuso also expressed tremendous pride in his senior class, describing it as one of the strongest groups the program has had.
Despite the difficult ending, he believes the experience gained this season will benefit the returning players moving forward.
“We played one good half and one terrible half,” Guttuso said. “It is what it is.”
What’s Next
Irvington now turns its attention to third-seeded Piscataway in the North 1, Group 5 sectional championship game.
The Chiefs advanced after producing a dramatic 38-35 victory over West Orange, setting up an important matchup with the Blue Knights.
For Irvington, the opportunity is another chance to demonstrate how far the program has progressed under Soto’s leadership.
The Blue Knights have already overcome a challenging opponent in top-seeded Ramapo. Now they are one victory away from capturing a sectional championship.
After Friday night’s performance, Irvington has made one thing clear: its vision for the future is becoming a reality.
