South Eagles lose to Del Val

By: John E. Powers
   The score wasn’t as lopsided as last year, but it still wasn’t the result the South Hunterdon Regional High School football team wanted.
   The Eagles finished a 1-9 season Saturday afternoon with a Homecoming Day loss to Delaware Valley 25-0.
   Delaware Valley (5-5) now leads the series 29-28-2, having won the last seven games. Delaware Valley won last year’s game 68-0 in Alexandria Township in longtime head coach Sam Jefferis’ last game in his 40-year run as head coach of South Hunterdon.
   "We didn’t finish as quite as well as I hoped," said Jim Meert, who finished his first year as head coach of South Hunterdon after replacing Jefferis. "Compared to last year, it was much more respectful. We had some opportunities, but we just didn’t capitalize, and that kind of hurt us."
   Down 13-0 in the second quarter, South Hunterdon drove to the Delaware Valley 1-yard line. But junior fullback Kyle Hart fumbled the ball as he was going into the end zone. That turned out to play a very big part in the game.
   "I was standing straight up and never really got low," said Hart, who now will prepare for the basketball season. "We did alright in the first half, but we should have scored once and possibly twice. We were kind of angry with ourselves."
   There were 11 turnovers and 17 penalties in the game. But Delaware Valley rolled up 380 yards, and Terrier junior running back Rich Gebert had a career-high 219 yards and three touchdowns.
   "He’s quick; I’ll give that to them, and he can really hit the holes," Hart said.
   Gebert scored from 1-yard out to give Delaware Valley a 19-0 halftime lead.
   "They went from their 20 and scored," Meert said. "To Delaware Valley’s credit, they probably could have really hammered us and run it up. But we talked about playing for respect all year, and I think we largely accomplished that goal. It’s certainly not why we’re playing. That’s why we have a scoreboard up there."
   South Hunterdon was energized when sophomore quarterback Brian Snell, who has been out with a hand injury, came in during the second half. His cousin, senior Carl Snell, ran for 131 yards.
   "I didn’t think Brian could take a snap because he had his hand bandaged up, but he was pretty exciting," Meert said. "I think we have some depth at quarterback."
   Brian Snell, who hadn’t played quarterback for several weeks, replaced freshman Ricky Esposito, who’d started the last three games. One of those games was a 13-6 win against Jonathan Dayton, which stopped the Eagles’ 20-game losing streak.
   "We got stronger as the year went on and really became on team," Hart said. "It was hard when we first started, but as the year went on, I think we really progressed."
   Meert thought junior defensive end Dan Musselman played well along with senior nose guard Justin Ege and senior Joe Krajack.
   "I’ve been very encouraged by our kids," Meert said. "Everybody has been great, and I think there’s some hope here. We have 21 kids returning."