By Rudy Brandl Sports Editor
The Hillsborough High football team simply couldn’t catch up with Piscataway in last Friday night’s season opener at Noonan Field.
The Raiders did almost everything else right, but Piscatway’s speed and athleticism made the difference in a 41-14 rout. If ever there was a football game that showed how meaningless statistics can be, it was this one.
Hillsborough (0-1) controlled the ball for nearly 35 minutes, enjoyed a 17-9 edge in first downs and whopping 66-27 advantage in total plays. Those were all things head coach Vinnie Coviello wanted his club to do to contain the high-flying Chiefs. Picataway (1-0) enjoyed a modest 303-272 edge in total yards, hardly a reflection of your average multiple touchdown romp.
The Raiders moved the ball very well, mostly on the ground, but when the Chiefs found daylight in the open field, they made a big play. The visitors averaged more than 11 yards per play, scoring on four long runs, a big pass and an interception return from midfield.
”They have some real talented backs who can run,” Coviello said afterward. “We had the original play stopped but they just bounced back out and made people miss. They were able to get out to the open field and run. You have to give them credit.”
Big plays led to every Piscataway touchdown, including one that came right after the Raiders got on the board midway through the second period. HHS had just completed a workmanlike drive of 13 plays and 70 yards over a span of 6:56 to cut the deficit to 21-7. Quarterback Will Daly plunged over center from one yard out to cap the drive.
On the very next play from scrimmage, Piscataway running back Steven Miller sprinted around left end and went untouched for a 58-yard touchdown run. Just like that, the Chiefs had their 21-point lead back.
Piscataway made a big play on defense to start the scoring early in the first quarter. The Raiders were faced with a 3rd-and-13 play and attempted a screen pass. Daly’s pass was intercepted by James White, who took off for a 45-yard touchdown sprint.
”We started off with a mistake right off the bat,” Coviello said. “That was my fault. I called the play. I got a little overzealous and made a bad call.”
The Chiefs weren’t done making big plays. On their next offensive series, Barry Garrard took off for runs of 12 and nine yards, the latter coming on a brilliant run around right end to the end zone. Garrard added an electrifying 27-yard jaunt later in the quarter to give the Chiefs a 21-0 lead.
Hillsborough answered with its first of two monster drives. Sophomore Mike Banaciski, who led all rushers with 143 yards on 24 carries, picked up three consecutive first downs to march the ball into the red zone. Daly scored the team’s first touchdown of the season to make it 21-7 with 6:13 to play in the half.
Late in the game, down by 34 points, the Raiders held the ball for 7:09 on a 13-play drive that covered 67 yards. Banaciski was the workhorse with seven carries for 48 yards in the surge. He finished it with a three-yard plunge off left tackle for the touchdown.
”The offensive line blocked great,” Banaciski said. “All of us saw the holes and pushed hard to the holes. It’s all the line.”
”We ran the ball up and down the field,” Coviello added. “We did a pretty good job with that. Mike deserved the opportunity to score at the end.”
Banaciski was happy with his team’s offensive execution but realizes the Raiders must do a better job on defense. Piscataway burned the Raiders with breakaway runs, a long pass and a fake punt.
”Our (defensive) line had a great push,” Banaciski said. “We were in the right spots. We just missed tackles. We have to work harder next week.”
The rest of the September schedule will not be easy for Hillsborough. The team travels to Hunterdon Central Friday night and has a short turnaround to host Franklin the following Thursday night, Sept. 20.
”We’re going to break down the film and try to clean things up,” Coviello said. “We did some good things tonight. I’m proud of the way the kids mixed it up and moved the ball. They’re focused and they’re paying attention. We have multiple things we can do. Teams have to prepare for a lot more.”
