By Andy Loigu

Back in 1967, a year which seems like only yesterday to this writer, the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union held a historic summit meeting in Glassboro, N.J. Since then, that South Jersey community has often been called Summit City.

In Union County, the hilltop community of Summit may be a good place for Biden and Putin to meet one of these days, because the town has been named Summit for a long, long time.

In the here and now, the Warren Hills football team went on the road for its own confrontation with a superpower, visiting the Summit Hilltoppers, who were in first place in their division of the Big Central Conference.

After the Blue Streaks’ 20-13 win, the division now has a three-way tie at the top, with Warren Hills, Summit and old familiar Skyland Conference foe Somerville all boasting 3-1 records in the standings.

With a 5-2 overall record, the Warren Hills Blue Streaks have assured themselves the school’s first winning football season in seven years, but these guys have now set their aspirations on the playoffs.

With power runner Jonathan Lainez getting it done on the ground and quarterback Luke Dugan providing the rockets’ red glare through the air, Warren Hills has a balanced offense which is tough to topple. Against Summit Dugan was 9-for-18 passing for 128 yards and he also was mobile whenever a play broke down. Dugan carried the ball 16 times for 75 yards.

Summit scored first on a 67-yard drive, but Warren Hills answered with a drive of its own, a 51-yard march finished with a five-yard rush by Lainez, a 200-pound high-speed tank who is a bruising bruin to bring down.

The Streaks went to the air to take the lead, as Dugan delivered a 30-yard touchdown toss to TJ Kachala down the left sideline.

The next seven times the Hilltoppers had the ball, they were held to nine yards per possession by the fired up Warren Hills defense.

Lainez scored his second touchdown on an eight-yard burst for a 20-6 lead but the fans could not breathe easily until Kachala intercepted a long downfield pass with 2:28 remaining in regulation time.

Lucas Fritton did his part, too, making four catches for 61 yards and successfully converted two out of three extra point kicks.

BLUE STREAKS FALL SHORT IN TOURNEY

Warren Hills lost the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex field hockey tournament championship game to North Hunterdon 3-1 on Saturday, but despite the loss to the Lions, the Streaks are 12-4 and looking forward to a long run in the state tournament.

They won the semi 1-0 as the defense vanquished the Vernon Vikings (invaders from the north) by holding them to five shots, which all were turned away by goalkeeper Sydney White.

Sarah Salameh scored the only goal in the defensive duel, assisted by Hailey Hoffman.

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Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.