Jr. Raiders Skylands Varsity and JV Teams Remain Undefeated in Week 6 Play

Skylands Division Varsity (Grades 7-8)

The Hillsborough Jr. Raiders Varsity team defeated the Phillipsburg Little Liners in Phillipsburg by the score of 34-8 on Saturday, October 12th, to improve their record to 6-0 on the year. The win was lead by the defense shutting down Phillipsburg after an early score. Defensive standouts were Tom Zdroik (7 tackles, 1 TFL), Pat Vinchur, Jack Edwards, Brian Reilly, J. R. Metallo, and Ryan Wheaton.

The offensive was lead by RB/RC Jackson Parham (1 TD rushing, 1 TD receiving), RB Tyler Boatwright (20 yard TD) and Quarterback Matt Moore (35 yard TD pass). Tyler Minter added a spectacular 70-yard touchdown run. The line was lead by solid blocking from Greg Koll, Wheaton and Edwards.

The top special teams had several key players. Parham returned the second half kick-off 70-yards for a touchdown. Wheaton pinned the Little Liners deep with 3 great kick-offs and Edwards blocked a punt.

Offensive MVPs were Koll, Wheaton, and Edwards; Defensive MVPs were Tom Zdroik and J. R. Metallo; Special Teams MVP was Jackson Parham.

The Jr. Raiders next face undefeated Bridgewater in Hillsborough (HHS) on Saturday October 19th at 7:30.

Skylands Division Junior Varsity (Grades 5-6)

Despite the good fight fought by the Phillipsburg Little Liners, the Hillsborough Jr. Raiders rolled to a 32-6 victory in Phillipsburg and now sit undefeated at 6-0 atop the Jr. Sylands JV conference. It took a full team effort - offense, defense, and special teams - in what should be a preview for the rest of season.

Offensively, the Little Liners could do little against the Matt Michinard show. Running primarily behind big Jon Seaton on the right side, Michinard ran for a season high 156 rushing yards on 13 carries. This rushing explosion saw 5 runs of 15 yards or more, including a reverse for 36 yards, and a 51-yard touchdown run. Michinard also contributed Boro's first Special Team's score of the year on a 40-yard punt return behind a big block by Tommy Ramsey. Rounding out the scoring was Alex Marsh and Tommy Ramsey each with short yardage plunges into the end zone. Once again, Tommy Ramsey was a kicking force with 4 kicked extra points.

Defensively, the Jr. Raiders notched their fourth “shut out” of the year (P-Burg scored on a blocked punt return). Eleven Jr. Raiders notched tackles on the day, continuing the defenses yearlong theme of everyone contributing. Led by Middle Backer Mikey Swetz with 9 total tackles (6 solo), Boro also had big efforts by cornerback Ramsey (4 solo tackles), safety Michinard (6 tackles, 3 solo), and Defensive Tackle Tommy Haber.  Haber was joined by line-mates Noah Movshin and Luke Popadiuk with tackles for loss on the day.

The Jr. Raiders look forward to hosting traditional rival Bridgewater on Saturday, October 19th, at Hillsborough High School at 5:30pm.

Patriot Division Junior Varsity (Grades 5-6)

The Patriot Division JV White team faced Hunterdon Central at the Triangle Road Complex.  Bruce Washington scored two touchdowns in the first half for Hunterdon Central while Kevin Rolon scored one for the Jr. Raiders as Hunterdon Central defeated the Jr. Raider JV White team, 14-6.  Kevin Rolon earned game MVP for the White team.

The Jr. Raider JV Red squad (6-0) remained unbeaten in the Patriot League with their victory Saturday against Bridgewater, with a final score of 20-0. This was the Red team’s fourth shutout of the season. The defense was dominating, led by linebackers Brendan Harding, Thomas Amankwaa and Dylan Valis. Defensive Tackle A. J. Vinchur was in the Bridgewater backfield all day and recorded 8 tackles. Cal Wilson also recovered a fumble for the Red Raiders.

On offense, Amankwaa scored two touchdowns while rushing for over a hundred yards in the first 15 minutes of the game to make the score 12-0. He later returned a punt to put the Red up 18-0. DE, Matthew Stroka sacked the Bridgewater quarterback for a 2 point safety to round out the scoring, 20-0.  Luke Monsorno and James Bambo also had big days rushing the football.

Next week the Red Raiders face Hillsborough Blue (6-0) in a battle of the unbeaten. When asked how he felt about being the away team on the home field (Triangle Road Complex) next week, multiple position player Hunter Jorgensen replied "that's just the way the cookie crumbles.”  Thomas Amankwaa earned game MVP for the Red team.

Division III (Grades 3-4)

The Division III Rutgers team extended their winning streak to 3 games with an 18-0 win over UConn at the Triangle Road Complex.  Tyler Michinard opened the scoring in the first quarter on a 25-yard run off right tackle to give Rutgers a 6-0 lead.  After a time out, with seconds to play in the first half, Kevin O’Sullivan broke loose on a 70-yard bootleg for a touchdown extending the lead to 12-0.  Rutgers defense, which has yielded only 6 points over the last three games, held steady the entire game with key stops against a spirited UConn team.   In the final scoring drive, Zach McCann and Shane Donoghue broke off key runs to lead the team down the field, culminating in a 5-yard touchdown run by Donoghue to increase the lead to 18-0 in the fourth quarter.  

The Division III Princeton Tigers met the Michigan Wolverines for the third time this season, also at the Triangle Road Complex. Princeton gained positive yardage on offense with runs by quarterback Tanner Boczon and running backs Michael Kondratuik, Ryan Vierbuchen, Luke Cahill and Matt Lang but were unable to convert any touchdowns against a stingy Michigan defense. The Michigan Wolverines held the Princeton Tigers scoreless to earn their fourth win of the season.   Michigan’s FB Andrew Santa Barbara had another big yardage game, scoring both Michigan TDs.  One of the TDs was a 60-yard punt return.  The first half was a defensive battle, with each team preventing the opponent’s offensive from scoring.  But Michigan’s special teams play gave the Wolverines a 6-0 lead at the half.  

The defensive battle continued in the second half, until early in the fourth quarter when Michigan scored a second TD on a run by Santa Barbara.  HB Camryn Loniewski ran off-tackle for the XP, giving Michigan a 13 – 0 lead.  The Tigers played tough on defense with notable tackles by Joe Witcoski, David Ortiz, James Vander Vliet, Owen Albert and Jason Ma. Michigan’s defense, led by Loniewski, Sal Volpe and Brandon Lobelo, succeeded in preventing the Tigers from putting any points on the board, and gave the Wolverines their second straight shutout.  Michigan emerged victorious by the final score of 13-0.