Missed chances costly in loss to P’burg
By: Rudy Brandl
PHILLIPSBURG The final score was misleading, but the margin of defeat only added insult to the disappointment for the Hillsborough High football team after last Friday night’s 40-14 loss at Phillipsburg.
Hillsborough stood toe-to-toe with the unbeaten Skyland Conference champs for three quarters. The Raiders were a tough measurement away from getting the ball back with a chance to take the lead early in the final period before the Stateliners scored the final 20 points of the game to post a lopsided victory.
Phillipsburg barely converted a crucial fourth down play at the HHS 25-yard line on the third play of the fourth quarter and scored on the very next play to take a 26-14 lead. Quarterback Justin Viscomi found Malcolm Dock with a perfect 25-yard touchdown pass with 10:11 remaining.
"The big plays really killed us," Raider head coach Rick Mantz said afterward. "They’re a tough team, give them credit. Our kids fought like hell, but we still made too many mistakes."
Hillsborough had a tough time stopping the Stateliners through the air. Viscomi had a huge night in the passing game, setting a school record with five touchdown passes. He found Dock twice, once in each half, and also hit Art Wright, Mark Christian and Justin Woeppel for scores. Viscomi completed 10-of-15 passes for 198 yards and his five TD passes in a single game are the most in the 101-year history of the P’burg program.
"Their run game makes it tough because the defensive backs come up," Mantz said. "We busted some coverages. Then they made some great throws."
Hillsborough’s defensive secondary didn’t make any excuses. Instead, they gave credit to the Stateliners for outstanding execution.
"On a lot of the passes, we were right with them," cornerback Dave Ellis said. "They just threw the ball in the right spot. We couldn’t do anything about it."
The threat of standout running back Ian Decker kept the Raiders cheating toward the line. Viscomi often faked to Decker and found a receiver open while the Raiders were scrambling to cover up.
"Their play-action pass has been giving team problems all year," safety Matt Hawzen said.
Viscomi’s touchdown spiral to Dock at the beginning of the fourth quarter was the real dagger in the Raider rally. The visitors had moved the ball very effectively on their previous drive and seemed to have momentum after Hawzen busted in from three yards away for his second touchdown of the night.
The two-score deficit forced the Raiders to open it up, which is not their game. HHS had some success pounding the ball at Phillipsburg but there wasn’t enough time for ball control drives. The Liners tacked on two late scores after a pair of Idi Reynolds interceptions.
The Raiders would have been in much better shape if they had taken advantage of some early chances. HHS took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter but missed two field goals after Phillipsburg fumbles that could have given the visitors a more comfortable lead.
"Again, it’s missed opportunities," Mantz said. "When you don’t take advantage of opportunities, it’s frustrating. You can’t do that against a team like this."
Phillipsburg seized the momentum entering the halftime break with a go-ahead touchdown late in the first half. With the game tied at 7-7 and his team in good field position in the final minute, Mantz went to the air but three straight sacks of quarterback Troy Cyburt gave the Stateliners another opportunity. They took the lead for good when Viscomi found Dock for a touchdown with 41 seconds left in the first half.
"We wanted to at least give ourselves a chance," Mantz said. "We had an opportunity to take the lead. It was a little disappointing."
The Raiders (4-3) are faced with a must-win situation Friday night at North Hunterdon. A victory assures Hillsborough of either the seventh or eighth seed in the Central Jersey Group 4 playoffs.
"If we have a shot at the playoffs, we have to win at North," Mantz said. "We have to play. We can’t beat ourselves."
Mantz expects his team to be ready for an exciting November run. The veteran coach knows there’s still time to make this a very special season. The last time HHS won a state title in 2000, the team entered the playoffs as the sixth seed.
"It doesn’t matter what we’ve done before," he said. "If we get hot now, we still have a chance."

