Sports

Par Hills to Face Undefeated West Essex in State Semis

Vikings routed South Plainfield last weekend to earn chance to play top-seeded Knights.

The Parsippany Hills High football team crushed South Plainfield 26-0 in its first round match up of the NJSIAA Sectional Tournament last weekend to improve to 8-2 on the season.

The fourth-seeded Parsippany Hills High School football team beat fifth-seeded South Plainfield last Saturday and now the Vikings travel to face No. 1 seeded West Essex this Friday at 7 p.m.

Check out the video above for interviews with senior quarterback Brandon Katzenberger and Senior cornerback/receiver Tommy Bluj during their Tuesday practice.

Find out what's happening in Parsippanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In their last game, “we ran for a season high of 102 yards rushing and that was phenomenal,” said Katzenberger.

Bluj said he wasn’t nervous for this upcoming game, but was “excited and can’t wait for it.”

Find out what's happening in Parsippanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Head Coach David Albano said although they haven’t played West Essex yet, “we did scrimmage them this summer.”

He added that his only concern with West Essex was their reputation.

“They’re undefeated, top seeded and they have a top football program,” said Albano, but he added that he’s confident in his team and the work they’ve put in will pay off this upcoming Friday night.

Albano also said that they’re looking to keep up the school’s good track record as the Vikings made the semi finals last year and the finals the year before as well as in 2005-06.

West Essex did not have as easy of a time winning their first tournament game with a final score of 28-22 against No. 8 seeded Orange.

If you go to cheer on the Vikings, grab a photo or two and send them to Patch at Kim@patch.com or text them to 845 891 6916.


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