The Alternative Press

WEST ORANGE, NJ - The West Orange High School Mountaineers suffered a heartbreaking 30-28 loss to Columbia High School in West Orange on Saturday afternoon.

The Cougars(3-3) trailed the Mountaineers(3-4) for over 47 minutes, but they hung tough and captured the lead late in the game to get the win.

Senior running back Willie Malone scored the game-tying touchdown to even the score at 28, pending the upcoming two-point conversion. Senior quarterback Deion Hudson connected with senior Tyshawn Thomas to put the Cougars up by two with only 30 seconds remaining in the game.

After a scoreless first quarter, West Orange was able to get on the scoreboard on a touchdown run by senior Irvin Paye. After a fumble by Paye, senior wide receiver Emmanuel Grant caught a touchdown pass from Hudson with only a minute left in the first half. West Orange immediately responded with a lengthy run by senior Karl Cajuste followed by a 51-yard touchdown run by Paye.

The Mountaineers expanded their lead early in the third quarter with a 68-yard interception returned for a touchdown by junior defensive back Isaiah Scott. Scott had two interceptions on the day.

In a game of momentum shifts, Hudson came back from the turnover and hit Thomas for a touchdown. Junior Gill Deljoie converted for two points on a pass from Hudson to make it a one-score game.

West Orange put together a well-balanced drive in the fourth quarter capped by Paye's third score of the day to put the Mountaineers up by 14. Just 19 seconds later, Hudson connected with Grant once again for a 47-yard touchdown on the first play of the Cougars' next possession. Senior running back Kenneth Antwi powered his way into the endzone for the two point conversion.

An interception by Columbia senior Corey Greene and a series of mental mistakes including a fourth-and-goal pass interference penalty plagued West Orange during the final minutes of the game as they watched Columbia sweep in and steal the victory.

The Mountaineers have a tough matchup next week when they travel to Montclair on Oct. 27, at 1 p.m. The Mounties are undefeated this season. The Cougars will host Nutley on Friday Oct. 26, at 7 p.m.