Hightstown unable to build off of first win

FOOTBALL: The victory two weeks ago at Princeton was forgotten after the Rams were defeated 38-17 by West Windsor-Plainsboro South last week.

By: Neil Hay
   It was nearly 24 hours later. And still coach Skip Edwards was feeling the effects of last Friday night’s 38-17 loss to visiting West Windsor-South.
   "I am a little numb," admitted Edwards.
   Edwards was disappointed that much of the development shown by his Hightstown football team the previous week in the Rams’ win at Princeton was not sustained against the Pirates.
   "We just didn’t play well in the first half. We didn’t tackle, we didn’t execute."
   Not that the Rams got failing grades in all areas. Said Edwards, "The offense played well. We moved the ball. We are getting better every week. We need to put some new things in. Not all our offensive plays are in yet. That restricts us some. We have some talented skill people. We are starting to improve."
   The Rams gained 143 yards rushing on 40 carries, with Alpha Karoma earning 87 yards on 21 tries. Mike Fuchsloch completed four of 11 passes for 54 yards and one interception. Fuchsloch scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter, and hit Karl Burrowes (three catches for 51 yards) with a 22-yard touchown pass in the fourth quarter. Sean Fleming also gave the Rams a boost with a safety in the fourth period.
   "Mike played okay. There are some things we have to correct. He made some good reads, threw a touchdown pass, executed some nice play fakes.
   "I can’t say enough about Alpha running the football," continued Edwards. "He has speed, power, moves."
   But the defense is the side of the ball that most concerns Edwards and the coaching staff. The Pirates had 20 first downs (to 11 for Hightstown), with 250 yards rushing on 38 carries. West Windsor-South added 80 yards on five of seven passing.
   "We are not stepping up, meeting the challenge, being physical. If we are not physical, we are in for a long night. As coaches, we are trying to make some changes, some very minute adjustments, adding a couple of different looks. Hightstown has to learn to get to the point of attack and stop the play."
   Edwards continues to stress patience, that turning around the program will take time. To hear Edwards speak, he knows he is in this for the long term, that success does not come quickly but is a product of commitment, dedication, and hard work.
   "The program is moving in the right direction," said Edwards of his 1-2 team. "The attitude is changing. There are still negative factors in there. That has to change. It will take a while, it won’t come overnight."
   Edwards is trying to promote the program to the community. Friday night all five Pop Warner teams were at the game, to give the youth football players a taste of the high school program and environment. More than 100 players were at the game. The team has also organized a parent club, which has had a barbecue, team dinners the night before a game, and the reintroduction of a team booklet."
   "There’s been a lot of positive feedback from game officials. I can see a turnaround at Hightstown High School. We’ll get it done," promised Edwards.