Win at North is enough, barely
By: Rudy Brandl
CLINTON What an emotional roller-coaster ride the Hillsborough High football team experienced last weekend.
First, there was the jubilation of Friday night’s 26-9 victory at North Hunterdon that the Raiders believed had clinched a berth in the Central Jersey Group 4 playoffs.
Then, there was the harsh realization Saturday morning that several crazy results in Middlesex County games had knocked the Raiders out of the mix. Later that day after a series of phone calls, HHS head coach Rick Mantz was informed his team had qualified as the eighth seed in front of South Brunswick.
The teams had been locked in a tie for the eighth and final playoff spot but Hillsborough got the nod on the third tie-breaker. The power points and strength factor were even, so it went to common opponents. HHS defeated Sayreville and Hunterdon Central, while South Brunswick lost to both teams.
After the Raiders were feeling a sense of relief Sunday, the saga continued Monday morning when the Star-Ledger listed South Brunswick as the No. 8 team in the section. Mantz made a phone call to NJISAA associate director Jim Loper, who confirmed that the Raiders officially had qualified for the state playoffs.
"It’s unbelievable," Mantz said moments after speaking with Loper Monday morning. "We had to go to a third tie-breaker, which is very unusual. We got this reprieve, we got this gift. Magically, we’re back in it and we have a chance. It motivates you that much more."
The Raiders (5-3) will travel to top-ranked Jackson (8-0) Friday night for the sectional quarterfinals. For a long time last weekend, it didn’t look like they’d be playing post-season football.
"I had to tell the kids that we needed Ridge to beat Franklin (Saturday) to get in," Mantz said. "What we went through Saturday was devastating."
Hillsborough’s players went to Franklin and cheered loudly for Ridge but couldn’t rally the visitors. Franklin rolled to a 42-15 victory to clinch the seventh seed in CJ 4. The Raiders left Ackerman Field believing they’d be playing a consolation game this weekend.
Now that they’re back in, the Raiders plan to make a run. They’re coming off their best half of football and will try to carry that momentum into Jackson.
Hillsborough needed a strong second half to pull out a victory at North last Friday night. The Raiders were sloppy in the first half but set the tone on the opening drive of the third quarter and rolled.
Leading by a field goal, the Raiders started the second half with a monster drive that produced a 13-3 lead. HHS moved 80 yards in 10 plays, all on the ground, and used nearly five minutes of the clock.
Anthony Visicaro, who rushed for 99 yards on 13 carries, scored his second touchdown of the night on a 17-yard run on a well-executed option pitch from quarterback Marc Zamarin.
"Zam made a great read and (Matt) Hawzen made a great block," Visicaro said. "It was open and I just ran right through."
The Raiders weren’t happy with how they played in the first half. They knew what they needed to do to make the playoffs.
"I told everyone in the locker room that this is it," said senior linebacker Paul Mychalczuk, who led the Raiders with 10 tackles. "We have to win to get in. Our whole mentality was just to get in."
Zamarin understood the importance of scoring a touchdown right away. He and the offense had sputtered in the first half. The only real highlights came on back-to-back plays when Zamarin hit Troy Cyburt for a 58-yard pass and Visicaro sprinted in for a 17-yard score late in the first period.
The Raiders needed more consistency and ball control to win this game. The first drive of the second half showed they were ready to take control.
"It was huge," Zamarin said. "We went in at halftime and we were disappointed in ourselves. We knew we had to do it in the second half."
"We knew we had to come out with a big drive," Visicaro added. "Everything was clicking and we got in the end zone."
Chris Jordan rushed for 44 of his 81 yards in the drive, while Visicaro accounted for 34 yards in the pivotal march. The Raiders had another five-minute drive later in the quarter but a penalty and dropped pass turned the ball back to North.
HHS tacked on two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, one on the very first play of the period when Joe Banaciski intercepted a Ryan Reed pass and returned it 30 yards for a score. After stopping the Lions without a first down, the Raiders took possession at the North 44 and clinched the victory with another scoring drive.
This time, it was five running plays that produced the touchdown. Jeremy Sporn found a hole on the right side and scored from eight yards out with seven minutes remaining.
The Raiders accumulated 164 rushing yards on 23 carries in the second half and controlled the ball for 13 of the first 17 minutes. Without completing a pass, Hillsborough scored 20 straight points to win in convincing fashion.
"Playing well in the second half was big," Zamarin said. "We started rolling. We saw what happens when we execute."
The Raiders must play well for an entire game against the top-ranked Jaguars. They’ve shown before that a low seed doesn’t mean anything when a team peaks at the right time. The Raiders still feel like they have some unfinished business from last year’s sectional semifinal exit at East Brunswick. Now, after all the craziness of last weekend, they’re on an equal playing field with seven other teams in quest of a sectional title.
"Anyone can win in the state playoffs," Mychalczuk said. "If you’re in, you’ve got a shot."
"All you want is a shot," Mantz said. "I don’t care if we have to go to Jackson or Cleveland. We’re in."

