A little after 7 p.m. on Friday December 5 at Met Life Stadium, the VHS Hillbillies football team made history.

For the first time in the history of a football program that dates back to 1940, the team completed an undefeated season, beating Cresskill 20-0 to claim the North 1 Group 1 State Sectional Championship.

Verona started the game on defense, forced a three and out, and then took control of the game. Verona used most of the first quarter to move down the field. With 3:47 left in the first, the Hillbillies found the end zone when Frank Ferrari rushed for a 17-yard touchdown.

Verona’s defense then took the field again and Ferrari forced a fumble which was recovered by junior Kyle Brennan. At the end of the first quarter, the Hillbillies led 7-0.

As Verona drove inside the red zone, Frank Ferrari threw an interception which was not returned and the stingy Hillbilly defense took the field again. Verona’s defense stopped Cresskill again and when the offense took over they scored on a Jimmie Crawford rushing touchdown. As the teams headed to the locker room Verona had a commanding lead, 14-0.

On the opening drive of the second half Frank Ferrari rushed for another touchdown. After the missed PAT, Verona led 20-0.

The Hillbillies kept a firm grip on the game in the fourth quarter, though the Cougars did drive deep into Verona’s end, with the Verona defense making a major stop on fourth and goal.  Verona took over at its own 3-yard line and moved the ball out to the 40 before being forced to punt.  Cresskill took over at its own 40 yard line, but only managed to get to the Hillbilly 30-yard line before Frank Ferrari made an interception that sealed the deal for the Hillbillies.

Verona ran off the remaining four minutes and then rushed the field as the final whistle blew.

The Hillbillies were honored by the board of education, the town council, and will be honored by the county next Thursday in Newark.