Dukes Jr. Pee Wees win football opener

By: centraljersey.com
The Hillsborough Dukes Jr. Pee Wees started their season with an impressive 26-12 win against the South Plainfield Eagles on Aug. 29.
Steve Grober got the game going with the kickoff from the Dukes. On second down, the Dukes forced a fumble that was recovered by Hillsborough’s Kevin Sawtell.
On offense, quarterback Sawtell took the snap from Jack Renz and handed the ball to Chris Stroup who ran it in for the Dukes first touchdown of the season. South Plainfield responded with a long run, but was chased down at the 1-yard line by Dion’Dre Jackson. The next play the Eagles punched it in for the touchdown, but South Plainfield fumbled the extra point attempt that was recovered by the Dukes’ Chris Kimock.
A few plays later, on third and three at Hillsborough’s 18-yard line Kyle Wengryn made a spectacular cut and left all the green jerseys behind while he ran it in for another Hillsborough touchdown for a 13-6 lead.
A turnover on downs for South Plainfield gave the Dukes another chance to score after Stroups’ 36-yard run brought the ball inside the Eagles’ red zone. After Grober’s 6-yard run and a South Plainfield face mask penalty, Hillsborough was facing fourth-and-2. Throwing on the run, Sawtell found Grober in the end zone for another Dukes touchdown and a 19-6 lead.
On the following kickoff, South Plainfield immediately ran it in for an Eagles touchdown to cut the lead to 19-12.
Hillsborough received the ball to start the third quarter and the Eagles made an onside kick attempt. Quintin Gibbs, with a good heads up play, fell on the ball and Hillsborough continued possession.
Later in the game, a muffed punt by South Plainfield gave the Dukes great field possession on the Eagles’ 3-yard line. Grober took the ball in for the touchdown and added an extra point to give Hillsborough a 26-12 lead.
During the next series, a tackle by Michael Dinardi made it third-and-10 when Stroup intercepted a South Plainfield pass and put the game away for good and gave the Dukes a 26-12 victory.