By Andy Loigu

Practices are underway in preparation for the 2021 high school football season, and although the Hackettstown Tigers are young, that’s not holding them back.

The Tigers are shooting for their first trip to a sectional final since 2017 (seems like only yesterday) and their first playoff championship since 1981.

First things first, though. They would be happy to play their entire nine-game schedule which starts on September 3 at Parsippany and ends with a visit from traditional neighborhood rival Warren Hills on October 29. They can concern themselves with the playoffs when they materialize.

Last year the Tigers went 1-4 in an improvised season which saw four COVID related cancellations and several games get rescheduled. In one instance, they did not know who they would play until Friday morning.

A major asset in the Tigers’ favor this time around is the fact that everyone on the varsity, despite the 47-man roster having just four seniors, is familiar with the execution of coach CJ Robinson’s triple-option offense. If the Tigers’ ground game can protect the ball and their drives take a lot of time off the clock and keep a talented opposing offense off the field, the Tigers are capable of staying in the game with just about anybody.

The system needs a quarterback who can think on his feet and make the right decisions quickly, based on what the defense is giving him. Juniors Anthony Edwards, Jackson Burke and Alex Feeny are in the running for the starting job.

At running back, senior Evan Hatten brings the team some valuable experience. Last year he ran for 151 yards in a shortened schedule and caught the team’s only touchdown pass of the season (that good old element of surprise).

Matt Balser is also expected to get a lot of carries this year.

The Tigers’ flexible defense depends on mobile linebackers and Jaiden Liferiedge and Edwards bring experience and leadership to the unit.

Coach Robinson has told the players to appreciate the opportunity each game brings them and to be thankful. Last year showed that opportunities can be suddenly taken away.

Football Season Used To Be A Short One

Back in the day, some 55 years ago, formal football practices began on September 1 in New Jersey and the regular season usually started four weeks later. There were no playoff games in those days. Thanksgiving Day was the end of the season and sectional titles were decided by power points and polling.

The players usually got together in August a few times for informal workouts, but they were nothing, intensity wise, like the practices when the coaches were barking out the orders.

Basically, football was a short season.

Where are they now?

Baseball star Nick Pixley was the top-seeded Tigers’ first baseman in the 2015 section final  game, a memorable classic against a hustling and scrappy Bernards team.

He recently was promoted to the position of Network Administrator at Coyne PR after several years of experience as a troubleshooter and IT service manager there. He keeps the cyber-optics communications happening. We wish him well with his career.

Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building