West Orange Defeated Shabazz in Newark Gridiron Clash
West Orange ended the home winning streak of the Shabazz football team in a tight Friday night contest.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Football
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West Orange secured a 13-6 victory over Shabazz on Friday night, handing the Newark-based team its first home loss in two years. With this win, West Orange improved its season record to 3-1.
Why it matters
The result represents a significant setback for Shabazz, a program currently ranked No. 10 in the NJ.com Top 20. The loss snaps a formidable home winning streak for the Newark team.
West Orange capitalized on two field goals of 32 and 28 yards from kicker Noah McKinney to clinch the 13-6 win. Shabazz struggled to maintain its offensive momentum despite a touchdown pass from Kariem Coston to Nosym Brown.
The players
Darnell Grant
He currently serves as the coach for West Orange and previously led the Shabazz program for nine years.
Daniel Lewis
He is a key player for West Orange who threw a critical touchdown pass in the victory.
Noah McKinney
He is the West Orange kicker who successfully converted two field goals during the game.
Sydney Padilla
He is a West Orange athlete who caught a first-quarter touchdown pass from Daniel Lewis.
Nosym Brown
He is a Shabazz player who caught a touchdown pass during the contest.
The details
Daniel Lewis propelled the West Orange offense early by connecting with Sydney Padilla for a first-quarter touchdown pass. The defensive struggle kept scoring limited, ultimately denying Shabazz the opportunity to preserve its two-year home undefeated status.
Timeline
Friday, September 18, 2026, was the date of the game in Newark.
The Shabazz home winning streak began in 2024.
Shabazz captured North 2, Group 1 sectional titles in 2014 and 2017.
Season Trajectory
This upset disrupts the regional hierarchy and shifts the competitive balance within the local football landscape. The result forces a recalculation of playoff expectations for both teams as they continue their respective season campaigns.
West Orange improves to a 3-1 season record, significantly bolstering its standing while handing Shabazz its first home defeat since 2024. The loss complicates the path for Shabazz to maintain its top-10 state ranking.
The takeaway
Upsets like this demonstrate the volatility of high school football rankings early in the season. Consistent performance remains the primary factor for teams looking to secure a high seed in the upcoming sectional playoffs.
Further reading
For more updates on local sports, visit the Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NJ.
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