By Andy Loigu

After a lopsided loss at Madison, the Hackettstown Tigers got back into the win column and evened their record at 2-2 with a sharp 41-13 win over the visiting Vernon Vikings on Friday evening. Quarterback Tim Ervey and fullback Matt Castro, with the help of blocks from their teammates, produced five of Hackettstown’s six touchdowns.

Although teams with three or four losses often make the playoffs, it is the teams with only one or two losses that usually earn the home field based on “power points.” That should inspire the Tigers to keep the pedal to the medal when they travel to Parsippany Hills (also 2-2) on Saturday afternoon for their next game.

Ervey scored the Tigers’ first touchdown on a 68-yard run. Zack Jastrzebski scored on a 58-yard run, Ervey’s only pass of the game went for a beautifully thrown 80-yard touchdown to Tyler Craig, and Castro’s six-yard run gave Hackettstown a 27-7 lead at halftime. Still smarting from losing their last two games, the Tigers played an inspired first half and their triple-option execution was crisp and quick.

Needing to put two good halves together to ensure the win, veterans Ervey and Castro continued to lead by example. A pair of third quarter touchdown runs by Castro, 57 and 45 yards in length, effectively put the game away. Castro carried the ball six times, gaining 121 yards and scoring three touchdowns.

Keying the defense was 17 tackles by Jason Kuehner. Everyone on the field knew their assignments and carried out their responsibilities, forcing many three-and-out possessions for the Vernon offense, who could not find any weaknesses.

The fourth quarter presented lots of varsity game action for lots of players, giving the coaches a chance to evaluate how they play at game speed.

For back up players who spend the week in practice simulating what the other team does on offense and defense, it is awkward to be inserted into a game and play the Hackettstown system. However, despite that issue, the back ups made plenty of impressive plays of their own on Friday night.

In the friendly confines of modern Warren Hills Stadium, the Blue Streaks broke their three-game losing streak and earned a satisfying 35-21 win over Montgomery under the Friday night lights. They pulled away with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Sean Morris scored on runs of four and 42 yards. Garrett Koch and Zach Hamilton each threw a touchdown pass and Bryce Katstra returned an interception for a Warren Hills touchdown.

Kyle Connelly, a former Hackettstown Tiger, is now at Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham, playing on the defensive line. Zach Nesheiwat of HHS plays defensive back for Wilkes College.

Former Blue Streak Carsen Johnson is a wideout for Southern Virginia.

Following a 4-0 loss on Saturday to a North Hunterdon team that is 2-1-1, the Warren Hills Blue Streaks had a 2-4 record in girls soccer.

Coach Jen Cavo indicated that she hopes the team’s core of experienced seniors takes on leadership roles and helps the younger players adjust to the rigors of varsity play over the rest of the season.

Senior goalkeeper Angela Accetturo started the season with over 300 career saves and senior midfielder Andrea Egerer earned first team all-conference honors last fall. Other returnees include Julie Duart, Paola Benavides, Alexa Shulman, Melanie Dowling, and Madison Philhower, all seniors.

**************************

Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.