Aging is inevitable, and for many, it signals the beginning of a new chapter - one where you cross off bucket list items and live life to the fullest, on your own terms. However, for some women, aging is a horrible prospect, filled with chronic fatigue, irritability, and inability to perform in the bedroom. If you're concerned about life in middle age and beyond, we've got great news: there are easy, proven steps that you can take to help stop the negative effect of aging.
Global Life Rejuvenation was founded to give women a new lease on life - one that includes less body fat, fewer mood swings, and more energy as you age. If you're ready to look and feel younger, it's time to consider HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and growth hormone peptides. These therapies for men and women are effective, safe, and customized to fit your goals, so you can keep loving life as you get older.
HRT, and growth hormone peptide therapies bridge the gap between your old life and the more vibrant, happier version of you. With a simple click or call, you can be well on your way to a brighter future. After all, you deserve to be the one in charge of your wellness and health. Now, you have the tools to do so - backed by science and applied by our team of HRT experts with more than 13 years of experience.
As women age, their hormones begin to go through changes that affect their day-to-day lives. For women, hormone deficiency and imbalance usually occur during menopause and can cause chronic fatigue, hot flashes, and mood swings, among other issues. Hormone replacement therapy helps correct hormone imbalances in women, helping them feel more vibrant and virile as they age.
Often, HRT treatments give patients enhanced quality of life that they didn't think was possible - even in their 60's and beyond.
The benefits for women are numerous and are available today through Global Life Rejuvenation.
As women age, their bodies begin to go through significant changes that affect their quality of life. This change is called menopause and marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycle and reproduction ability. Though there is no specific age when this change occurs, the average age of menopause onset is 51 years old. However, according to doctors, menopause officially starts 12 months after a woman's final period. During the transition to menopause, women's estrogen and other hormones begin to deplete.
As that happens, many women experience severe symptoms. These symptoms include:
The symptoms of hormone deficiency can be concerning and scary for both women and their spouses. However, if you're getting older and notice some of these symptoms, there is reason to be hopeful. Hormone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine for women can correct imbalances that happen during menopause. These safe, effective treatments leave you feeling younger, healthier, and more vibrant.
The most common reason for menopause is the natural decline in a female's reproductive hormones. However, menopause can also result from the following situations:
Oophorectomy: This surgery, which removes a woman's ovaries, causes immediate menopause. Symptoms and signs of menopause in this situation can be severe, as the hormonal changes happen abruptly.
Chemotherapy: Cancer treatments like chemotherapy can induce menopause quickly, causing symptoms to appear shortly after or even during treatment.
Ovarian Insufficiency: Also called premature ovarian failure, this condition is essentially premature menopause. It happens when a woman's ovaries quit functioning before the age of 40 and can stem from genetic factors and disease. Only 1% of women suffer from premature menopause, but HRT can help protect the heart, brain, and bones.
For many women, menopause is a trying time that can be filled with many hormonal hurdles to jump through. A little knowledge can go a long way, whether you're going through menopause now or are approaching "that" age.
Here are some of the most common issues that women experience during menopause:
If you're a woman going through menopause and find that you have become increasingly depressed, you're not alone. It's estimated that 15% of women experience depression to some degree while going through menopause. What many women don't know is that depression can start during perimenopause, or the years leading up to menopause.
Depression can be hard to diagnose, especially during perimenopause and menopause. However, if you notice the following signs, it might be time to speak with a physician:
Remember, if you're experiencing depression, you're not weak or broken - you're going through a very regular emotional experience. The good news is that with proper treatment from your doctor, depression isn't a death sentence. And with HRT and anti-aging treatment for women, depression could be the catalyst you need to enjoy a new lease on life.
Hot flashes - they're one of the most well-known symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes are intense, sudden feelings of heat across a woman's upper body. Some last second, while others last minutes, making them incredibly inconvenient and uncomfortable for most women.
Symptoms of hot flashes include:
Typically, hot flashes are caused by a lack of estrogen. Low estrogen levels negatively affect a woman's hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls body temperature and appetite. Low estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus to incorrectly assume the body is too hot, dilating blood vessels to increase blood flow. Luckily, most women don't have to settle for the uncomfortable feelings that hot flashes cause. HRT treatments for women often stabilize hormones, lessening the effects of hot flashes and menopause in general.
Mood swings are common occurrences for most people - quick shifts from happy to angry and back again, triggered by a specific event. And while many people experience mood swings, they are particularly common for women going through menopause. That's because, during menopause, the female's hormones are often imbalanced. Hormone imbalances and mood swings go hand-in-hand, resulting in frequent mood changes and even symptoms like insomnia.
The rate of production of estrogen, a hormone that fluctuates during menopause, largely determines the rate of production the hormone serotonin, which regulates mood, causing mood swings.
Luckily, HRT and anti-aging treatments in Westwood, NJ for women work wonders for mood swings by regulating hormone levels like estrogen. With normal hormone levels, women around the world are now learning that they don't have to settle for mood swings during menopause.
Staying fit and healthy is hard for anyone living in modern America. However, for women with hormone imbalances during perimenopause or menopause, weight gain is even more serious. Luckily, HRT treatments for women coupled with a physician-led diet can help keep weight in check. But which hormones need to be regulated?
Lowered sexual desire - three words most men and women hate to hear. Unfortunately, for many women in perimenopausal and menopausal states, it's just a reality of life. Thankfully, today, HRT and anti-aging treatments Westwood, NJ can help women maintain a normal, healthy sex drive. But what causes low libido in women, especially as they get older?
The hormones responsible for low libido in women are progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone.
Progesterone production decreases during perimenopause, causing low sex drive in women. Lower progesterone production can also cause chronic fatigue, weight gain, and other symptoms. On the other hand, lower estrogen levels during menopause lead to vaginal dryness and even vaginal atrophy or loss of muscle tension.
Lastly, testosterone plays a role in lowered libido. And while testosterone is often grouped as a male hormone, it contributes to important health and regulatory functionality in women. A woman's testosterone serves to heighten sexual responses and enhances orgasms. When the ovaries are unable to produce sufficient levels of testosterone, it often results in a lowered sex drive.
Often uncomfortable and even painful, vaginal dryness is a serious problem for sexually active women. However, like hair loss in males, vaginal dryness is very common - almost 50% of women suffer from it during menopause.
Getting older is just a part of life, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for the side effects. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women correct vaginal dryness by re-balancing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. When supplemented with diet and healthy living, your vagina's secretions are normalized, causing discomfort to recede.
Uterine fibroids - they're perhaps the least-known symptom of menopause and hormone imbalances in women. That's because these growths on the uterus are often symptom-free. Unfortunately, these growths can be cancerous, presenting a danger for women as they age.
Many women will have fibroids at some point. Because they're symptomless, they're usually found during routine doctor exams. Some women only get one or two, while others may have large clusters of fibroids. Because fibroids are usually caused by hormone imbalances, hysterectomies have been used as a solution, forcing women into early menopause.
Advances in HRT and anti-aging medicine for women give females a safer, non-surgical option without having to experience menopause early. At Global Life Rejuvenation, our expert physicians will implement a customized HRT program to stabilize your hormones and reduce the risk of cancerous fibroid growth.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS, and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Xenoestrogen is a hormone that is very similar to estrogen. Too much xenoestrogen is thought to stimulate endometrial tissue growth. HRT for women helps balance these hormones and, when used with a custom nutrition program, can provide relief for women across the U.S.
Hormone stability is imperative for a healthy sex drive and for a normal, stress-free life during menopause. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women balance the hormones that your body has altered due to perimenopause or menopause.
HRT for women is a revolutionary step in helping women live their best lives, even as they grow older. However, at Global Life Rejuvenation, we know that no two patients are the same. That's why we specialize in holistic treatments that utilize HRT, combined with healthy nutrition, supplements, and fitness plans that maximize hormone replacement treatments.
If you've been suffering through menopause, is HRT the answer? That's hard to say without an examination by a trusted physician, but one thing's for sure. When a woman balances her hormone levels, she has a much better shot at living a regular life with limited depression, weight gain, mood swings, and hot flashes.
Here are just a few additional benefits of HRT and anti-aging treatments for females:
Hormone imbalance causes a litany of issues. But with anti-aging treatments for women, females can better process calcium, keep their cholesterol levels safe, and maintain a healthy vagina. By replenishing the body's estrogen supply, HRT can relieve symptoms from menopause and protect against osteoporosis. But that's just the start.
Global Life Rejuvenation's patients report many more benefits of HRT and anti-aging medicine for women:
If you're ready to feel better, look better, and recapture the vitality of your youth, it's time to contact Global Life Rejuvenation. It all starts with an in-depth consultation, where we will determine if HRT and anti-aging treatments for women are right for you. After all, every patient's body and hormone levels are different. Since all our treatment options are personalized, we do not have a single threshold for treatment. Instead, we look at our patient's hormone levels and analyze them on a case-by-case basis.
At Global Life Rejuvenation, we help women rediscover their youth with HRT treatment for women. We like to think of ourselves as an anti-aging concierge service, guiding and connecting our patients to the most qualified HRT physicians available. With customized HRT treatment plan for women, our patients experience fewer menopausal symptoms, less perimenopause & menopause depression, and often enjoy a more youth-like appearance.
Growth hormone peptides are an innovative therapy that boosts the natural human growth hormone production in a person's body. These exciting treatment options help slow down the aging process and give you a chance at restoring your youth.
Sermorelin is a synthetic hormone peptide, like GHRH, which triggers the release of growth hormones. When used under the care of a qualified physician, Sermorelin can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and help you feel much younger.
Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy has been used for years to treat hormone deficiencies. Unlike HGH, which directly replaces declining human growth hormone levels, Sermorelin addresses the underlying cause of decreased HGH, stimulating the pituitary gland naturally. This approach keeps the mechanisms of growth hormone production active.
Ipamorelin helps to release growth hormones in a person's body by mimicking a peptide called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of three hormones which work together to regulate the growth hormone levels released by the pituitary gland. Because Ipamorelin stimulates the body to produce growth hormone, your body won't stop its natural growth hormone production, which occurs with synthetic HGH.
Ipamorelin causes growth hormone secretion that resembles natural release patterns rather than being constantly elevated from HGH. Because ipamorelin stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, our patients can use this treatment long-term with fewer health risks.
One of the biggest benefits of Ipamorelin is that it provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies. Ipamorelin can boost a patient's overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life.
When there is an increased concentration of growth hormone by the pituitary gland, there are positive benefits to the body. Some benefits include:
Whether you are considering our HRT and anti-aging treatments for women in Westwood, NJ, we are here to help. The first step to reclaiming your life begins by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation. Our friendly, knowledgeable HRT experts can help answer your questions and walk you through our procedures. From there, we'll figure out which treatments are right for you. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to looking and feeling better than you have in years!
866-793-9933December will kick off with an all-day holiday celebration in Westwood, with festivities including a parade, live music, a Christmas tree lighting and a community band concert.Westwood Home for the Holidays...
December will kick off with an all-day holiday celebration in Westwood, with festivities including a parade, live music, a Christmas tree lighting and a community band concert.
Westwood Home for the Holidays, which will take place on Saturday, Dec. 2, is just the beginning of holiday events scheduled throughout the month. The borough also plans a menorah lighting, giveaways of handmade ornaments that will benefit neighbors in need, and a gingerbread house contest.
Local residents can take part in "Westwood Shop for the Holidays" on Friday, Dec. 1. from 5 to 8 p.m. The event, sponsored by Celebrate Westwood, will feature in-store discounts, treats and entertainment.
Holiday light shows:Explore thousands of holiday lights at these New Jersey light shows and drive-throughs
The holiday fun won't end there. A menorah lighting, presented by Valley Chabad, will be held at the Westwood Train Station on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 5 p.m.
Celebrate Westwood plans to host a gingerbread house contest on Monday, Dec. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Westwood Community Center. For more information or to sign up, visit celebratewestwood.org/gingerbread.
Residents also can decorate their Christmas trees and help neighbors in need with a handmade ornament pre-sale sponsored by Celebrate Westwood. All proceeds will benefit Westwood Cares, a nonprofit organization that helps people who are in need of help but who do not qualify for government assistance. The nonprofit helps with utility and medical bills, rent, car repairs, food gift cards and more.
The expected delivery for the ornaments, which cost $15 each, is in early December. Those who wish to order can visit givebutter.com/Westwood2023Ornaments.
Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: [email protected]
Undefeated Westwood won the Group 2 state championship with a 21-20 overtime win over Rumson-Fair Haven on Monday evening at Rutgers.The Cardinals (12-0) entered the game ranked No. 5 in the ...
Undefeated Westwood won the Group 2 state championship with a 21-20 overtime win over Rumson-Fair Haven on Monday evening at Rutgers.
The Cardinals (12-0) entered the game ranked No. 5 in the latest Statewide Public Top 20 rankings, while the Bulldogs were ranked No. 16.
Rumson-Fair Haven won the coin toss and chose to defer. Westwood fumbled on the opening kickoff, giving the Bulldogs the ball at the Cardinals' 31-yard line.
Alastair Orr powered in from the 2-yard line, putting the Bulldogs ahead four minutes into the game. Rumson-Fair Haven 7, Westwood 0
After picking up multiple first downs during a seven-minute drive, Westwood turned the ball over on downs at the Rumson-Fair Haven 20-yard line.
The quarter ended with the Bulldogs facing a third-and-4 from their own 37-yard line.
After picking up a couple first downs, Rumson-Fair Haven punted the ball away. It landed in the end zone for a touchback with 8:08 left in the half.
After Robbie Carcich scrambled for one first down, Westwood punted the ball to the Bulldogs' 2-yard line with 6:37 left in the half.
The Cardinals forced a three-and-out, but committed a running-into-the-kicker penalty on the ensuing punt. The Bulldogs punted a few plays later, giving Westwood the ball at its own 42-yard line with 2:29 left in the half.
Westwood tied the game on a 3-yard touchdown run by Aidan Dugan with 0:53 left in the half. Rumson-Fair Haven 7, Westwood 7
Rumson-Fair Haven returned the second-half kickoff to midfield.
The teams traded punts to open the half.
The Bulldogs retook the lead on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Owen O'Toole to Jack Gyimesi about halfway through the quarter. Rumson-Fair Haven 14, Westwood 7
Westwood reached midfield again on the ensuing possession before another punt.
Rumson-Fair Haven drove into Westwood territory, but the Cardinals forced a turnover on downs.
Westwood punted the ball away to open the fourth quarter.
After a long Rumson-Fair Haven drive, the Cardinals made a goal-line stand with 5:50 left in the game.
On third-and-10 from his own 1-yard line, Westwood quarterback Robbie Carcich completed a perfect 31-yard pass to Joe Klein, who made a nice over-the-shoulder catch.
Westwood completed a 99-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Robbie Carcich to Tommy Bussanich with five seconds left in regulation. The Cardinals lined up to go for two but committed a false start penalty and instead kicked the game-tying extra point. Rumson-Fair Haven 14, Westwood 14
Rumson-Fair Haven got the ball first in overtime.
After Alastair Orr picked up two first downs, the Bulldogs scored on a 2-yard run by Jackson Gallagher. Westwood blocked the extra point. Rumson-Fair Haven 20, Westwood 14
Robbie Carcich scrambled for a Westwood first down, then completed a pass to Tommy Bussanich for another first down.
On third-and-goal from the 14-yard line, Carcich completed a touchdown pass over the middle to Bussanich. Extra point good. Westwood wins. Westwood 21, Rumson-Fair Haven 20
PISCATAWAY − Westwood delivered an all-time great drive in the fourth quarter and capped it with an epic victory in overtime.The Cardinals defeated Rumson-Fair Haven, 21-20, for the NJSIAA Group 2 football title Monday night after senior quarterback Robbie Carcich threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Tommy Bussanich and junior Sean Morrison added the extra point."I don't know how many teams can say they drove the field, then won in overtime," Carcich said after Westwood secured a perf...
PISCATAWAY − Westwood delivered an all-time great drive in the fourth quarter and capped it with an epic victory in overtime.
The Cardinals defeated Rumson-Fair Haven, 21-20, for the NJSIAA Group 2 football title Monday night after senior quarterback Robbie Carcich threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Tommy Bussanich and junior Sean Morrison added the extra point.
"I don't know how many teams can say they drove the field, then won in overtime," Carcich said after Westwood secured a perfect 13-0 season.
Rumson-Fair Haven had taken a 20-14 lead in OT on senior Jake Gallagher's 2-yard run, but Westwood junior Aidan Dugan blocked the extra point at Rutgers' SHI Stadium.
Check out the photo gallery, then continue reading.
"They came out and scored on a couple of plays running the ball," Westwood coach Bobby Guy said of Rumson-Fair Haven. "We blocked an extra point, and it was a championship effort."
Westwood trailed 14-7 in the fourth quarter before engineering a 14-play, 99-yard drive that ended with Carcich's 6-yard TD pass to Bussanich with five seconds left in regulation. The Cardinals lined up to go for a 2-point conversion, but a false-start penalty led to a change of plans and Morrison's game-tying extra point.
Westwood made a goal-line stand midway through the fourth to keep the deficit at seven points. On a fourth-and-goal at the 2-yard line, senior linebacker Michael Carcich, Robbie's brother, tackled sophomore running back Kellen Murray a yard shy of the end zone with 5:50 remaining in the fourth.
"We knew when we got the ball at the 1, after our defense stops them, no one in the stadium believes that we can drive 99 yards and score," Robbie Carcich said. "But we did, the guys in the huddle did, and that's what mattered."
This is the only the second year the NJSIAA played all the way down to single public group state champions, and Westwood’s victory will long be remembered as one of the most dramatic title games in Garden State history.
Westwood entered the game ranked No. 5 in the Statewide Public Top 20 and could climb in the final rankings slated to be released later this week.
Rumson-Fair Haven (8-5), a two-time Group 2 runner-up that played arguably the toughest schedule of any public school in the state, was 16th and will likely remain in the Top 20.
Never in the history of New Jersey football – or anywhere on any level – will a team be able to say it drove more than 99 yards for a TD on its final drive of regulation.
Carcich’s game-tying 6-yard TD pass to Bussanich likely would NOT have happened if Carcich hadn’t converted a pressure-filled third-down pass while standing in his own end zone.
On a third-and-10 from the 1-yard line, Carcich completed a 31-yard pass to senior receiver Joe Klein up the left sideline to make it first-and-10 at the 32-yard line.
“When you’re third down, on your 1-yard line, it’s hard to not think, ‘Oh, this could be over. This could be it’,” Bussanich admitted. “But big credit to Robbie and Joey. That catch was the momentum we needed, and we just rolled with it, and we made plays.”
COOPER:Westwood's state championship win was the 'most insane' we've seen
Westwood amassed 274 total yards. Robbie Carcich went 16 for 20 for 145 yards, two TDs and no interceptions, and he also carried 22 times for 77 yards. Bussanich caught seven passes for 72 yards and the two scores. Sophomore Steve Klein, Joe's brother, made seven solo tackles and 12 assists.
Dugan, in addition to blocking the extra point, scored on a 3-yard run with 53 seconds left in the second quarter to help Westwood head to intermission tied at 7. He dove to the left pylon for the score.
Rumson-Fair Haven had 325 total yards. Alastair Orr carried 28 times for 96 yards and a TD. Junior quarterback Owen O’Toole went 12 for 22 for 128 yards and one interception, and his 8-yard TD pass to sophomore Jack Gyimesi in the third quarter gave the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead.
“The whole year we’ve been getting overlooked,” Robbie Carcich said. “We know we can play with anybody in the state, and that [99-yard] drive was everything. It sums up who we are – backs to the wall.”
“Driving the ball 99 yards? That’s what champions are made of,” Guy said.
TWP. OF WASHINGTON − The shootout never materialized, but the shutout stayed intact.Westwood advanced to the NJSIAA Group 2 football final with Friday’s 17-0 victory over Bernards. The teams went in averaging 35.1 and 38.4 points per game, respectively, but traded punts until midway through the second quarter.That's when senior Tommy Bussanich caught a 32-yard pass from Robbie Carcich to get the Cardinals (12-0) going on a drive that ended with Sean Morrison's 22-yard field goal."We were just waiting for...
TWP. OF WASHINGTON − The shootout never materialized, but the shutout stayed intact.
Westwood advanced to the NJSIAA Group 2 football final with Friday’s 17-0 victory over Bernards. The teams went in averaging 35.1 and 38.4 points per game, respectively, but traded punts until midway through the second quarter.
That's when senior Tommy Bussanich caught a 32-yard pass from Robbie Carcich to get the Cardinals (12-0) going on a drive that ended with Sean Morrison's 22-yard field goal.
"We were just waiting for a big play," Bussanich said. "It didn't happen for a quarter-and-a-half, but when we called that play, I just knew I had to make it happen."
Check out the photo gallery, then continue reading.
Carcich then threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Joe Klein with 15 seconds left in the first half, and that was more than enough for the Westwood defense.
The Cardinals (12-0) preserved their fifth shutout of the season by stopping Bernards at the 1-yard line as time expired.
Westwood will face Rumson-Fair Haven in the final on Nov. 27 at Rutgers' SHI Stadium.
In the 2022 Group 2 semis, played at Franklin High School in Somerset County, the Cardinals fell to Caldwell in coach Dennis Hard's final game. This year, with semifinal sites based on United Power Rankings, that allowed Westwood to host and gain an edge.
"That played into our hand, definitely," first-year coach Bob Guy said. "Bernards is a great program, they had an incredible season. We definitely made enough plays [Friday] to win, so it was a great job by all facets of our team."
The Mountaineers finished their winningest season in school history at 12-1.
Bernards junior Max Austin ended Westwood's opening drive of the second half with an interception, but the home team responded by forcing a three-and-out.
The Mountaineers then drove into Westwood territory late in the third quarter, but on fourth-and-1 from the 30-yard line, nose tackle RJ Ussher led the charge to stack up QB Connor Laverty for no gain.
After sophomore Steve Klein padded the lead to 17 with a 2-yard TD run – which capped a 14-play, 70-yard drive – Bussanich dove on a bad snap to short-circuit Bernards' next drive and keep things out of reach.
"A shutout in the semifinals is a remarkable thing to do," Guy said. "But again, just a full team effort for sure."
? The Carcich twins both made an impact: QB Robbie completed 6-of-10 passes for 65 yards and ran 13 times for 35 yards, while two-way lineman Mike made nine tackles on defense.
? Westwood's Aidan Dugan rushed 16 times for 95 yards to lead all ballcarriers.
? The lefty Laverty completed 13 of 20 passes for 122 yards, and ran 11 times for 41 yards, while Terrence Hanratty led the Bernards defense with nine tackles and a sack.
"There's a lot of work to be done. We're going to watch film [Saturday], celebrate this one on the weekend, and then it's back to work. It's pretty cool how Westwood's going to a stage [where] it's never been before. It's very exciting for us." − Steve Klein
TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON – No doubt on this one.Westwood quarterback Robbie Carcich threw three touchdown passes, all on fourth downs, as the Cardinals got by Rutherford, 20-7, Friday night in a battle of unbeaten teams for the North 1, Group 2 title.Westwood (11-0) intercepted a pass on the second play of the game and jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and limited the Bulldogs offense.“We just wanted to get a ring,” Carcich said. “We didn’t care how it was done.”The s...
TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON – No doubt on this one.
Westwood quarterback Robbie Carcich threw three touchdown passes, all on fourth downs, as the Cardinals got by Rutherford, 20-7, Friday night in a battle of unbeaten teams for the North 1, Group 2 title.
Westwood (11-0) intercepted a pass on the second play of the game and jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and limited the Bulldogs offense.
“We just wanted to get a ring,” Carcich said. “We didn’t care how it was done.”
The same two teams met in the sectional final last year with Westwood winning 21-20 in a game decided on the final play, a disputed two-point try by Rutherford stopped at the goal line.
Check out the photo gallery, then continue reading.
Westwood will host Bernards (12-0) in the Group 2 state semifinals next Friday night. The Mountaineers beat Lakeland, 23-17 in overtime, in the North 2, Group 2 sectional final.
The Cardinals lost in the Group 2 semifinals last year to Caldwell.
“Last year ended the way we didn’t want it to, and our overall goal is to be the best team in Group 2, but we take it one week at a time, as boring as that sounds, that’s our mentality,” first-year Westwood coach Bobby Guy said. “We focus on our opponent, we don’t look ahead. We don’t look behind. Our guys did a tremendous job of preparing for this week.”
Rutherford won the NJIC title for a record third straight year and ends the season at 10-1.
Steve Klein intercepted the first Rutherford pass of the game, but the Cardinals initially struggled to move the ball, facing a fourth-and-17 at their own 37-yard line. It was too far to kick a field goal, so Westwood went for it and Carcich launched a perfect pass to Joe Klein in the back of the end zone for the first score.
Later in the first quarter, the Cardinals faced a similar situation. Facing a fourth-and-7 at the Bulldogs' 25-yard line, Carcich connected with Thomas Bussanich for the score.
Those two scores were enough.
“It just happened to be this week, it was the Klein brothers, next week it could Bussanich, we have so many guys that we have trust in,” Carcich said. “That’s what happens when you have faith in every guy in red − or black in this case − to do their job Friday night, we will be one successful team.”
Carcich connected with Michael Rinaldi for a 5-yard TD pass late in the third quarter, also on fourth down, to make it 20-0.
Rutherford kept Carcich in check running the ball, leaving their linebackers and standout Ryan Ward to watch him in the pocket.
“First play, I dropped back to pass and [Ward] wasn’t even rushing, he was giving me one of those death stares, like don’t come over here,” Carcich laughed. “He’s a great player, our defense did a great job shutting them down today. Rutherford is definitely the best team we played this year. We are just so happy to be on the winning side of this.”
Carcich’s longest run of the night went for 12 yards. He completed 18 of 28 passes for 217 yards.
“Coach Hard did me a favor and left me a really good football team,” said Guy, talking about former Cardinals coach Dennis Hard, who stepped down after last season. “I can’t thank him enough for all the mentorship he has given me. I was with him for nine years and I learned a lot. Its really all about toughness, play hard, play tough, play physical and those things still resonate."