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Pope John loses championship game, 33-21

EAST RUTHERFORD. DePaul wins its 11th state title at MetLife Stadium.

Sparta /
| 03 Dec 2024 | 05:28
    Pope John’s Tylik Hill reaches out for the pylon and scores his team’s first touchdown of the NJSIAA Non-Public, Group B championship Friday, Nov. 29 at MetLife Stadium. Hill made three touchdowns. The Lions lost to DePaul, 33-21. (Photos by Glenn Clark)
    Pope John’s Tylik Hill reaches out for the pylon and scores his team’s first touchdown of the NJSIAA Non-Public, Group B championship Friday, Nov. 29 at MetLife Stadium. Hill made three touchdowns. The Lions lost to DePaul, 33-21. (Photos by Glenn Clark)
    Pope John’s Nick Struble makes the catch for the longest pass play of the day for the Lions. DePaul’s Ryhen Thomas is defending.
    Pope John’s Nick Struble makes the catch for the longest pass play of the day for the Lions. DePaul’s Ryhen Thomas is defending.
    Pope John’s Andrew Sanchez breaks up a long pass intended for DePaul’s De’zie Jones.
    Pope John’s Andrew Sanchez breaks up a long pass intended for DePaul’s De’zie Jones.
    Tylik Hill consoles Pope John teammate Evan Kennedy after their 33-21 loss to DePaul.
    Tylik Hill consoles Pope John teammate Evan Kennedy after their 33-21 loss to DePaul.
    Pope John head football coach Dom Gaston reaches out to one of his linemen after the Lions’ loss to DePaul.
    Pope John head football coach Dom Gaston reaches out to one of his linemen after the Lions’ loss to DePaul.
    Pope John’s quarterback Luke Irwin tries to fight off the tackle attempt of DePaul’s Ethan Lilley in the first half.
    Pope John’s quarterback Luke Irwin tries to fight off the tackle attempt of DePaul’s Ethan Lilley in the first half.
    Joseph Rozynski, right; Prince Joshua, center; and Luke Gialanella celebrate a Lions first-half score against DePaul.
    Joseph Rozynski, right; Prince Joshua, center; and Luke Gialanella celebrate a Lions first-half score against DePaul.
    Pope John students root for the Lions.
    Pope John students root for the Lions.
    Tyler Houser of Pope John pulls down DePaul’s Nolan James Jr. during the third quarter.
    Tyler Houser of Pope John pulls down DePaul’s Nolan James Jr. during the third quarter.
    Tylik Hill of Pope John cannot hide his disappointment in the last few seconds of the game.
    Tylik Hill of Pope John cannot hide his disappointment in the last few seconds of the game.
    The Pope John cheerleaders do a stunt along the Lions sideline at MetLife Stadium.
    The Pope John cheerleaders do a stunt along the Lions sideline at MetLife Stadium.
    Andrew Sanchez of Pope John lays out to try to block the extra-point kick by DePaul’s Ryan Sayles.
    Andrew Sanchez of Pope John lays out to try to block the extra-point kick by DePaul’s Ryan Sayles.
    Tylik Hill is lifted up in celebration after he makes a touchdown against DePaul.
    Tylik Hill is lifted up in celebration after he makes a touchdown against DePaul.
    Pope John’s Tylik Hill makes a stutter step on a first-half run, as DePaul’s Marquet Dorsey tries to defend.
    Pope John’s Tylik Hill makes a stutter step on a first-half run, as DePaul’s Marquet Dorsey tries to defend.
    Lions quarterback Luke Irwin listens to offensive coordinator Brian Gibbs on the sideline during the first half.
    Lions quarterback Luke Irwin listens to offensive coordinator Brian Gibbs on the sideline during the first half.
    Tylik Hill of Pope John yells in celebration on the Lions’ sideline after his second-half touchdown.
    Tylik Hill of Pope John yells in celebration on the Lions’ sideline after his second-half touchdown.
    Pope John’s Andrew Sanchez breaks up a long pass intended for DePaul’s De’zie Jones.
    Pope John’s Andrew Sanchez breaks up a long pass intended for DePaul’s De’zie Jones.
    Pope John’s Nick Struble makes the catch for the longest pass play of the day for the Lions. DePaul’s Ryhen Thomas is defending.
    Pope John’s Nick Struble makes the catch for the longest pass play of the day for the Lions. DePaul’s Ryhen Thomas is defending.
    Pope John’s Tylik Hill puts out a stiff arm on a run around the left end against DePaul.
    Pope John’s Tylik Hill puts out a stiff arm on a run around the left end against DePaul.
    Nick Struble signals first down for the Lions after his 32-yard reception in the first quarter.
    Nick Struble signals first down for the Lions after his 32-yard reception in the first quarter.
    Pope John’s Tylik Hill tries to fight off two DePaul defenders on a run.
    Pope John’s Tylik Hill tries to fight off two DePaul defenders on a run.
    Marissa Marston, Pope John senior cheerleader, cheers on the Lions during the second half.
    Marissa Marston, Pope John senior cheerleader, cheers on the Lions during the second half.
    Luke Irwin of Pope John lets go of a pass in the second half.
    Luke Irwin of Pope John lets go of a pass in the second half.
    Pope John loses championship game, 33-21
    Pope John senior Marissa Marston does a stunt along the Lions sideline during a second-half timeout.
    Pope John senior Marissa Marston does a stunt along the Lions sideline during a second-half timeout.
    Pope John senior Marissa Marston does a stunt along the Lions sideline during a second-half timeout.
    Pope John senior Marissa Marston does a stunt along the Lions sideline during a second-half timeout.

After a competitive first half in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public, Group B final game, the Pope John XXIII Regional High School football team was unable to close a 12-point gap opened by top seed DePaul Catholic High School in the fourth quarter.

The heavily favored DePaul (11-1) claimed its 11th state championship and its seventh since 2013 on Friday, Nov. 29 at MetLife Stadium.

The Wayne high school last won the title in 2022, beating Red Bank Catholic, 19-17. Last year, it lost to the same team, 14-7.

Pope John (5-8) was moved to the Non-Public, Group B from Group A along with other schools this year to make it more competitive.

The Lions, seeded sixth, last competed for a state title in 2013 and last won it in 2002.

The game

DePaul scored first Friday on a 14-yard run by quarterback Derek Zammit.

Lions powerhouse running back Tylik Hill then made the first of his three touchdowns, tying the score at 7-7.

Hill’s counterpart for DePaul, Nolan James Jr., ran the ball in to give his team the lead, 13-7, at the end of the first quarter.

Pope John moved ahead, 15-13, on another touchdown by Hill and a two-point conversion by Joseph Rozynski.

Then Zammit scored again in the second quarter, bringing the score to 19-15.

In the third quarter, Elijah Burress caught a 15-yard pass from Zammit, giving DePaul a 26-15 lead.

Hill came back with another touchdown on a 67-yard run.

James widened the DePaul lead to 33-21 with his second touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Two interceptions by De’Zie Jones late in the game ended Pope John’s efforts to put more points on the scoreboard.

The stats

James rushed for a total of 244 yards in the game while Hill had 175.

Zammit completed nine of 13 pass attempts for a total of 115 yards. He also rushed for 46 yards.

Pope John quarterback Luke Irwin completed five of 15 pass attempts for 86 yards.

Jones caught six passes for a total of 85 yards.

Tyler Houser made 14 tackles for the Lions.

Omar Daniel made one extra point for Pope John, while Ryan Sayles made three extra points for DePaul.