By Andy Loigu

A pair of former Hackettstown High School football players who are deceased due to the tragic events of September 11, 2001 at the twin towers in New York City, were given tributes at the Tigers’ home football game last weekend.

Bobby Williams was a first responder at the World Trade Center, working to get people to safety. He later died of a fatal illness from the toxic air that came from the buildings when they collapsed.

As a Tiger captain, he was a team leader 40 years ago, helping Hackettstown win a state football playoff championship.

A ceremony honoring that 1981 team’s accomplishment was held at Friday night’s home opener, which sadly resulted in a 10-7 loss to Sussex Tech.

Also on Friday evening, former Tiger player Bruce Simmons (class of 1978) was remembered. A granite memorial monument  in his memory was placed near the field entrance 20 years ago at Chot Morrison Field. He was employed by one of the firms which were tenants at the twin towers when the hijacked planes struck their targets. Simmons might have been able to get out but chose instead to help many of his co-workers.

This columnist remembers the football game in which Hackettstown hosted North Warren on Saturday evening, September 15, 2001.

The NFL and NCAA called off their gridiron contests that weekend, out of respect that America was grieving and getting over the shock of the terrorist attack. The famous Mike Piazza home run game at Shea Stadium did not occur until nearly two weeks after the attack on the twin towers.

However, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association found consensus across the Garden State that it would be best for the high school students to carry on their lives in as close to a normal way as possible. That meant the weekend’s football games would be played.

Morrison Stadium felt like a shrine in the twilight of that evening, as the normally boisterous student section sat in their seats silently with lit candles in their hands in a solemn tribute to the victims of the 9/11 tragedy. The speakers’ speeches and the musical selections all were valid and appropriate.

It was an unforgettable experience during an unforgettable time.

STREAKS KEEP WINNING

You can’t win them all if you don’t win the first two.

With a balanced attack, featuring a steadfast running game and a big-play passing offense, Warren Hills’ football squad improved to 2-0 with a convincing 28-6 win at South Plainfield, which is no easy place at which to play. South Plainfield is a feisty sports town with lots of history, pride, and tradition.

They are not to be confused with rivals North Plainfield and “Plain” Plainfield.

Quarterback Luke Dugan looked like Brett Favre throwing to Jerry Rice in a television commercial that gets a lot of air-play these days. Lucas Fritton, with elusive moves and breakaway speed, caught two touchdown passes from Dugan, which were the third and fourth scoring strikes of the season for the Blue Streaks’ talented slinger.

In period two, Dugan and Fritton connected on a 45-yard scoring play and in period three, they hooked up on a 60-yard connection. Dugan gained 163 yards through the air, all of them reeled in by Fritton.

On the ground, the Blue Streaks have another prime time player in Jon Lainez, who rushed for 74 yards. He took a punt return “to the house” for his first touchdown and plowed in from one yard to finish a long drive.

Wrestler Tyler McCatharn made an impact in the trenches and made a big sack to thwart the South Plainfield quarterback.

Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.