BAPTISTOWN — While it’s sad to think this was the only highlight dual match involving two Hunterdon County wrestling teams this season, at least it certainly did live up to its advance billing. In a thriller for dual match bragging rights in Hunterdon County, North Hunterdon edged formerly undefeated Delaware Valley, 34-33 Wednesday night in a match with no shortage of drama. Without a doubt the pivotal moment came at 132 pounds where Matthew Esposito pinned DelVal’s Tye Falkenstein with six seconds remaining in the third period to give the Lions a 31-25 lead with three bouts to go. After Aidan Yarussi won by a regular decision at 138 to up the North lead to nine points, DelVal’s Sebastian Dobuk stepped up by posting a 9-7 win at 144. It was a solid win for Dobuk, but it also wasn’t enough because even if Jackson Bush had pinned in the last bout to tie the score at 34-all, North Hunterdon would have been declared the winner on the criteria of most first points. Knowing that, Bush ended up settling for a technical fall The amazing thing is Espositio controlled nearly the entire match before Falkenstein rallied late in the third period to take the lead with backpoints that very nearly resulted in a pin. Esposito. however, got off his back, reversed and  recorded a fall that basically won the match. “I was about to give up, but I heard my boys on the site (of the mat) cheering me on,” said Esposito, who was named his team’s Outstanding Wrestler for the match. “Once I got on top I didn’t just want to win. I wanted the pin.” Another key moment for North Hunterdon occurred at 113 where Owen Fol won by a 9-1 major decision to  provide another bonus point. Adding to DelVal’s frustration was the way it appeared to be in good shape following a fast start. In the first part of the match, Luke Sinkewicz at 157 pinned and Olivier Paul then came up big at 165 with a 6-4 win over Joshua Joubert, who had bumped up a weight. In addition, DelVal got a major from Brandon Sozanski at 215 and a pin by heavyweight Luken Alberdi. DelVal standout Jaden Perez also had a night to remember at 126 pounds. He was named his team’s :”O.W.” after pinning in the first period and also recorded his 100th career victory in the process. All in all an entertaining match and at least for one night it seemed just like old times in Hunterdon County wrestling. North Hunterdon (4-2) 34, Delaware Valley (8-1) 33 157: Luke Sinkewicz (DVR) over Dylan McGuinness (NOHU) (Fall 3:19) 165: Olivier Paul (DVR) over Joshua Joubert (NOHU) (Dec 6-4) 175: Evan Kinney (NOHU) over Jon Nalesnik (DVR) (Fall 2:59) 190: Owen Dandeo (NOHU) over Matthew Sencher (DVR) (Fall 2:50) 215: Branden Sozanski (DVR) over Anthony DeSimone (NOHU) (MD 14-4) 285: Luken Alberdi (DVR) over James Turner (NOHU) (Fall 1:45) 106: Cayden Wadle (NOHU) over Owen Shuey (DVR) (Fall 2:00) 113: Owen Fol (NOHU) over Tanner Donaruma (DVR) (MD 9-1) 120: Joseph Celentano (NOHU) over Luacs Beyers (DVR) (Dec 15-10) 126: Jaden Perez (DVR) over Reid Buzby (NOHU) (Fall 1:46) 132: Matthew Esposito (NOHU) over Tye Falkenstein (DVR) (Fall 5:54) 138: Aidan Yarussi (NOHU) over Michael Hasson (DVR) (Dec 8-5) 144: Sebastian Dobak (DVR) over Kieran Raley (NOHU) (Dec 9-7) 150: Jackson Bush (DVR) over Vincenzo Darrow (NOHU) (TF 18-3 5:59)