The River Dell Golden Hawks Varsity Football Team (7-2) closed out the 2026 regular season on a roll, extending its winning streak to five games with a 49-14 victory over the Ramsey Rams on Senior Night at River Dell High School in Oradell, New Jersey.

River Dell quarterback Brooks Esler continued to sparkle in his first year under center, completing 13 of 14 passes, throwing three touchdowns, and scoring on a rushing touchdown. Overall, the Golden Hawks totaled 174 rushing yards.

Before kickoff, a special pre-game ceremony honored the senior football players and their families, along with the cheerleaders and marching band.

Luke Van Dam said the ceremony was special: “You only get one high school senior night, and we wanted to make it the best possible. Having the parents come out, and the cheerleading and marching band, everyone’s involved, and it’s a great, emotional moment.”

Luke Van Dam said, “The big realization is how quick the four years really do go by. I wish I could do it forever, and knowing it must come to an end is definitely a soft spot for me. Seeing my family after games, and tonight most importantly my mom, dad, aunty and grandma, means a lot.”

Luke Van Dam said, “Carrying that green flag means a lot to me, and we’re counting the last coming up. Because of my teammates, I got to carry the flag, and there won’t be many more times doing that.”

Luke Van Dam said, “We’re a pretty big senior class, and brothers, and everyone knows each other and is all close. We go out to team dinners and realize time’s ticking, and we got to make the most of it. It’s our final ride as a team, and most guys won’t play college football, so we want to go out with a bang.”

Luke Van Dam said, “Coach (DJ) Nimphius sets the standard for the team, and that standard is high. That’s why River Dell has been a successful program throughout the years, and he’s the head of the table.”

After the national anthem, another pre-game ceremony began with the announcement and presentation of the Super Football Conference Steve DiGregorio Young Man of the Year Award, which was presented to Luke Van for River Dell and Jonathan Davis for Ramsey.

Luke Van Dam said, “I’m so grateful, and I wouldn’t be able to come close to that without my team. They’re the reason I’m having a successful year, and they’re with me every step of the way in practice, games, and team dinners. I was given the award, but I feel everyone earns that, and the whole team was with me.”

After the festivities, the Golden Hawks got the opening kickoff and followed a similar blueprint to previous games, marching down the field methodically. They mixed up the running and passing game, moving the ball quickly.

River Dell drove inside the red zone, and at the three-yard line, Jackson Lee took the handoff from Brooks Esler and plowed into the end zone for the touchdown, capping a stout 12-play, 63-yard drive that chewed up almost six minutes off the clock.

However, Ramsey answered back immediately on their ensuing first offensive possession of the game. Quarterback Brodie Ramiza tossed a screen pass to running back Jonathan Davis, then Davis sprinted all the way down to the Golden Hawks' 10-yard line.

After a false start penalty assessed against the Rams pushed the ball back to the 15-yard line, Ramiza took the snap and rolled out to his right and fired a pass into the right corner of the end zone where wide receiver Brady Veenstra snagged the catch for the touchdown that tied the game up at 7-7 with 4:23 remaining.

River Dell benefited from excellent starting field position on their next offensive series after Jackson Lee returned a kickoff to the 42-yard line.

The Golden Hawks found success running and throwing, advancing into Ramsey territory. Facing third-and-long at the Rams' 24-yard line as time wound down in the quarter, Brooks Esler lined up in shotgun formation, took the snap, backed up in the pocket, and hurled a pass down the middle to a wide-open Iain Rossig, who hauled in the catch in the end zone to put River Dell back in front 14-7 with six seconds left.

Brooks Esler said, “Ramsey was able to go down and score, and we said it was a 0-0 game again. It was the opening drive again, and we needed to score. I was able to hit Iain on the post in the end zone and convert that play on third down.”

In the second quarter, the Rams offense gambled on a fourth-down conversion at their own 47-yard line, but the Golden Hawks' tenacious defense forced an incomplete pass, leading to a turnover on downs.

River Dell capitalized on a short field on first down at the 35-yard line. Brooks Esler took the snap, faked the handoff, and heaved a pass down the middle to Iain Rossig, who darted to the end zone for the score that extended the Golden Hawks' advantage to 21-7 with 6:56 to go.

Brooks Esler said, “That was a game changer, and Iain and I were able to hit it off all night long and most of the season.” River Dell’s defense continued to wreak havoc, forcing the Ramsey offense into a quick three-and-out highlighted by Luke Van Dam's sack.

Luke Van Dam said, “I’m not going to lie, we were bummed out that we let an opponent put up the first points against us. We can’t control everything and be perfect, but we played a little bit more anger.”

The Golden Hawks offense started at their own 35-yard line, and Brooks Esler completed a pair of passes to Mikey DeGroat, pushing the ball into the Rams' end zone.

On second down at the 40-yard line, Esler found his favorite target again in DeGroat. Taking the snap, dropping back in the pocket, pumping once, and unleashing a missile into the air, Esler watched DeGroat stretch out, sensationally seize possession, and motor into the end zone, boosting the margin to 28-7 with 1:29 remaining.

Brooks Esler said, “Iain and Mikey are just great receivers and big targets, and they really understand the game of football well. They’re incredible athletes, and they make my job easy.”

Just when River Dell seemed content, the potent defense forced Ramsey’s offense into another three-and-out and a punt.

The Golden Hawks, positioned at their own 47-yard line, wasted no time hitting paydirt as Brooks Esler took the snap, faked the handoff, and launched a pass over the defense to Iain Rossig once again. In fluid motion, Rossig galloped to the end zone, expanding the River Dell edge to 35-7 with 43 seconds to go.

Brooks Esler said, “That was extremely important, and on the play to find Iain, we were able to catch Ramsey in a rotation. It was a great play, and being up 35-7 at the half felt good.”

The Rams received the second-half kickoff and found some consistency on offense starting at their own 22-yard line, then moved the ball methodically by running the ball and carving up chunks of yardage.

Once inside Golden Hawks territory, Ramsey hit a brick wall and faced a fourth-down play that culminated in Luke Van Dam notching his second sack of the game and 11th of the season.

Luke Van Dam said, “I’m not the biggest guy or the tallest, but I have pretty good football IQ. I know when the quarterback wants to escape and where he’s going, and I read his eyes. That just takes me to the play, and I’m in the right place at the right time.”

River Dell appeared on the verge of tacking additional points, but a fumble gave the ball right back to the Rams. Ramsey wasted no time cashing in as quarterback Brodie Ramiza unleashed a 67-yard touchdown bomb to wide receiver Brady Veenstra, cutting the lead to 35-14 with 5:18 left.

On the ensuing Golden Hawks kickoff return by Jaeden Raguindin to the 35-yard line, a personal foul assessed against the Rams' special teams unit moved the ball to midfield.

River Dell’s offense cranked on all cylinders as Brooks Esler connected on a pass to Iain Rossig. Rossig, displaying his physicality and toughness, churned his way to the Ramsey 25-yard line. The Golden Hawks pounded the rock on the ground and got inside the five-yard line, then faced a crucial fourth-and-one at the one-yard line. River Dell, not thinking twice about going for it, paid off as Brooks Esler surged straight ahead with the offensive line paving the way across the goal line for the score that increased the lead to 42-14.

Brooks Esler said, “The offensive line are guys that continue to do great things and might have had their best game of the season. They really put it together and are the unsung heroes.”

In the fourth quarter, the Golden Hawks defense imposed its will with another impact play, as Iain Rossig intercepted a pass. River Dell started at their own 45-yard line, feeding the ball to Mark Spano, and another personal foul assessed against Ramsey advanced the ball deeper.

On first down at the 20-yard line, Brooks Esler took the snap, then handed the ball off to Mark Spano and initially stopped at the line of scrimmage. Spano snuck through a narrow hole and dashed to the end zone for an electrifying touchdown that capped the impressive win.

Brooks Esler said, “Mark has taken advantage of those opportunities, and he’s very tough. I’m not surprised he got into the end zone on that type of run.”

The Golden Hawks, seeded fourth in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 Tournament, square off against fifth seed Montville(6-3) in the Quarterfinals at River Dell High School on Friday, October 30th, with kickoff set for 6 p.m.

Luke Van Dam said, “We got to be focused on Montville, and we’re not looking ahead to the next round. Securing that first win is key, because if you don’t, you’re out and have to be prepared. A really good week of practice translated to our performance on the field, and we have to repeat that against Montville.”

Brooks Esler on the upcoming matchup against Montville, “It’s definitely pivotal they have to come into our place with our crowd and play against us.” “Every game from here out we’re playing extremely good teams and there’s no opponent that can be taken lightly at all and some of the best in Group 3 and that’s why they are in the playoffs.”