By Andy Loigu

Seeking redemption, atonement, is a powerful motivational force.

On a dismal Saturday evening (weather wise) in Washington last Saturday night, the Warren Hills Blue Streaks struck early and often in a 38-14 win over the Hackettstown Tigers in the 93rd meeting of the traditional rivals.

The Blue Streaks were determined to show that last year’s 27-21 setback at Hackettstown was not going to be a repeat. Maintaining a narrow lead in the all-time series ledger and winning back the Beater Board are nice, but the main thing for Warren Hills was making up for a game that slipped away a year ago.

Since 1986 the Rotary Clubs of Hackettstown and Washington have awarded Player of the Game trophies to two players from each team, for offensive and defensive prowess. This year’s Offensive Player of the Game from Warren Hills was senior quarterback Garrett Koch, who rushed for two touchdowns and threw a 28-yard scoring pass to Zach Hamilton, who won the Defensive Player of the Game honor. Hamilton, playing both ways, did it all. He threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Katstra on a halfback-option play and rambled to a 57-yard touchdown on the ground. His touchdown reception came on a fourth down play and gave the Streaks an early 17-0 lead.

Ahead by 24-0 at the start of the second half, the Blue Streaks’ defense stopped the Tigers cold (pun intended) and forced a punt, which was blocked, leading to a successful touchdown drive on a short field for Koch. The Streaks led 38-0 at the end of period three and the final period was played with wholesale substitutions.

An unsung Warren Hills hero is senior center Dylan Stiles, who volunteered to move from running back to the offensive line after the second game of the season. He learned the fine points of the position quickly and is credited by coach George DiGrande for stabilizing the offense and facilitating a run in which the Streaks have won five out of six after an 0-3 start.

Warren Hills now moves on to the playoffs in North 1 Group 3, the first playoff qualification for the Streaks since 2015.

Not only does every play start with the center’s snap to the quarterback, but then he is confronted by a large, hostile defensive tackle who lined up in a three-point stance about two inches from his nose. The motion of snapping the ball does nothing to help him hold off the charge of the ornery lineman. When the play is meant to go outside, the center has to be mobile enough to head off a linebacker who is intent on mayhem and drive him beyond the point of attack toward which both men are moving. Good job Dylan!

The heart of the triple-option is a running quarterback, who in this case for Hackettstown was Tim Ervey, named the Tigers’ Offensive Player of the Game, who led the Tigers to several impressive wins during their 4-5 season. The first option in the veer motion after the snap is a handoff to the fullback if the tackle moves to the outside. The second option is a quarterback keeper for an off-tackle run, if the left end moves to the outside. The third option is a quarterback pitch to the tailback if the left end moves in to try and tackle the quarterback. It is a read-option on-the-move system that also opens up the pass when the defense is vulnerable to a run fake. As John Madden would say, “BOOM, there’s the wideout open for a hook pass.”

Linebacker Matt Castro, a senior team leader and two-way workhorse all season, was chosen for Hackettstown’s Defensive Player of the Game award.

Despite Saturday’s cold, damp, windy and dreary weather, it was a happy day for Hackettstown in boys soccer, as the third seed Tigers brought the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex championship trophy home with them after a 1-0 victory over fourth seed Delaware Valley in the ski country of Vernon Township.

Tyler Gorczyca, an active junior midfielder, earned the Most Valuable Player honor with his defensive play. Chase Reardon scored the game’s only goal in the first half, assisted by Sammy Giraldo.

The Tigers (14-4) won the tournament for the first time since Sussex County schools joined the association in 2009. In 2003, the Tigers won the Hunterdon/Warren championship in Flemington, prevailing in a tight game with Corey Sargeant in goal, over Warren Hills.

Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.