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SOUTH HUNTERDON: Eagles fired up for state title game

Football team plays Saturday at Kean University

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
For the first time in 20 years, the South Hunterdon Regional High School football team will vie for a state title Saturday when the Eagles play for the Central Jersey Group I championship.
The game is slated to start at 10 a.m. at Kean University’s turf field in Union. South Hunterdon (9-2) will take on Shore Regional (10-1).
The Eagles won the same title in 1975 and 1979 under former coach Sam Jefferis, who led the team for 40 years. The Eagles last made it to the state title game in 1994.
Any student or parent who would like to ride the fan bus to the game must fill out a permission form and return it and $5 to the South Hunterdon main office by Thursday at 3 p.m.
South’s coach is Toby Jefferis, Sam’s son. He’s been the team’s coach for five years, compiling an overall record of 30 wins and 20 losses.
The school and the towns that send students to it — Lambertville, West Amwell and Stockton — are definitely up for Saturday’s big game, said Athletic Director Jason Miller.
"The great thing about being in a tight knit community is the entire town rallies around our school and kids," Mr. Miller said. "The kids are going to have this memory for a lifetime and the school community is helping build the excitement."
The Eagles gaining the state final is impressive by the fact that South Hunterdon, with 197 students in grades 10-12, is the second-smallest school in the state to have a football team. (Wildwood, with 15 fewer in those grades, is the smallest.) Shore’s enrollment is 472 in grades 10-12, according to state data.
South Hunterdon Principal Mark Collins said the coaching staff has done great work to bring the Eagles thus far. The principal praised the team for its mature conduct on and off the field.
"Coach Jefferis and his staff deserve much of the credit putting the players in the position to vie for a state title," Mr. Collins said. "The team has responded with a very business-like approach, both on the field and in the classroom."
The team’s strong season and its upcoming title game have been a big plus, Mr. Collins said. " This event has sent a very positive tone throughout our school community."
South Hunterdon, which shut out New Hope-Solebury, 31-0, in their traditional Thanksgiving game last week, has blanked three of its last four opponents. The only team to score on the Eagles in the last four games was Palmyra, which fell, 28-14, to South Hunterdon in the Central Jersey semifinal.
Schools Superintendent Louis Muenker is psyched up for Saturday’s game, too.
"I am excited for all of our players who have worked so hard to be able to represent our school and district," Dr. Muenker said. "The entire South community continues to provide a high level of support as is evidenced by their comments and attendance during the football season."