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SOUTH BRUNSWICK: Vikings take Hillsborough 35-21

By Ed Birch, Special Writer
   SOUTH BRUNSWICK — The South Brunswick Vikings scored a come-from-behind 35-21 victory at home over the Hillsborough Raiders in the Central Group V Division quarterfinals last Friday.
   Quarterback T.J. Perkowski who ran for, and passed for two, touchdowns and running back Dahrae Ford with two touchdown runs led the Vikings.
   A late fourth quarter interception by defensive back Austin Moore sealed the victory for the Vikings at home.
   South Brunswick surrendered the first score to Hillsborough on a Andrew Zitel to John Banaciski 73-yard pass just 25 seconds into the game.
   Vikings running back Dahrae Ford tied the game up with a two-yard plunge up the middle in the final minute of the first period.
   Hillsborough’s Banaciski was able to run all over the field during the contest, breaking tackles and finding openings to run through, gaining a total of 198 yards in 28 carries. His second score of the game with three minutes remaining in the half, put the Raiders up 14-7.
   South Brunswick’s Perkowski countered that scoring play with his own massive 63-yard touchdown run with just two minutes to go in the half.
   Then, with just 14 seconds left in the half, Perkowski threw a deep pass to Dion Hooper for a 57-yard touchdown, allowing the Vikings to go into the locker room with a 21-14 lead.
   Both teams traded third quarter touchdowns. Within the first two minutes of the third quarter, Dahrae Ford scored on a five-yard run to give the Vikings a 28-14 lead.
   Four minutes later, Hillsborough quarterback Andrew Zitel connected with Tyshon Murdock on a 13-yard pass play to bring the Vikings lead down to 28-21.
   South Brunswick’s Donte Strickland’s 11-yard run just eight seconds into the final quarter gave the Vikings a 35-21 lead.
   The Vikings then went to a ground attack, gaining two consecutive first downs and forcing the Raiders to use its three precious time outs.
   A final interception by South Brunswick’s Moore put the game out of reach as the Raiders had no way of stopping the clock as the game ended.
   ”Wow, it was a tough contest at first especially coming off a three week break from competitive football” quarterback Perkowski said following the game. “This was one total team effort. They shut down T.J. Taylor but Ford and Strickland took over.”
   ”You can not overlook the fact that our kicker Dylan (Olsson) was five for five on extra points,” Taylor said. “It really kept us in the game.”
   For Hillsborough, quarterback Zitel was eight out of 20 attempts for 187 passing yards. Star running back John Banaciski ran 28 times for 198 yards on the ground.
   For the Vikings, Ford ran 18 times for 150 yards, and Perkowski threw 12 times for 108 total passing yards.
   Alex Berkuta was the star of the Vikings defense with seven tackles.
   ”Good teams make good efforts” said Head Coach Joe Goerge. “We kept our heads in the game and did not give up. We are a balanced team and play good football.”
   The Vikings next opponent will be Montgomery High School 7 p.m. on Nov. 30 at South Brunswick High School.
   The winner of that contest advances to the division final game. That contest will be played at a neutral field.