Jenkins scores, defense rules for home team
by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
The Hillsborough High offense did just enough to pull out a 6-0 victory over Warren Hills in Friday night’s football season opener.
Hillsborough scored the game’s only touchdown late in the first quarter and the defense controlled the rest of the game. The Raiders didn’t do much offensively until late in the game, when they clinched the victory with a 13-play drive that took the final 6:35 off the clock.
Senior quarterback Mike Daly hit senior running back Anthony Jenkins with a 22-yard strike over the middle with 3:47 to play in the first period. Those were the only points of the game, which was played during a steady drizzle before a sparse crowd.
It was all about defense for the Raiders, who stopped the Blue Streaks on four consecutive possessions in their end in the second half. Warren Hills was gaining momentum in the field position game but the HHS defense continued to make big stops.
“They played fantastic,” Raider head coach Vinnie Coviello said, referring to his defense. “We put in a few new wrinkles this week and the kids really focused. They understood what we were trying to accomplish. They were very disciplined and they did an awesome job.”
Hillsborough held Warren Hills to two yards of total offense and one first down in the second half. The Streaks started two drives in HHS territory in the fourth period but could not move the chains.
“We did a great job,” said HHS junior safety Mike Banaciski, who was also his team’s leading rusher. “The line got a lot of pressure on the quarterback and that made it easy for the DBs. We knew their formations and we worked together and did a great job.”
The Raiders are 1-0 for the first time under Coviello, now in his third season at the helm. HHS will host Watchung Hills at Noonan Field next Friday night at 7 p.m.

