The Jr. Raiders varsity team defeated the Jr. Red Devils from Hunterdon Central, 22-2, Saturday to win the Jr. Skyland Football Conference championship.
The Jr. Raiders finished their perfect season with a record of 10-0, winning the conference championship for the first time since 2011. In addition to the title, the Jr. Raiders earned the honor of being the number-one ranked 14-and-under team in New Jersey by the National Prep & Youth Football Association.
The Jr. Raiders kicked off to the Jr. Red Devils to start the game, but defensively Sean Levonaitis caused a fumble recovered by Justin Dietrich on the Hillsborough 49-yard line. After an 11-yard gain by Levonaitis, Nate Estime ran 40 yards for a touchdown behind blocks from Mike Swetz, Jon Seaton and Alex Marsh. Tom Ramsey kicked the extra point, snapped by Luke Popadiuk and held by Levonaitis.
The Jr. Raider defense shut down Hunterdon Central’s next drive with big tackles from Marsh and TJ Shultz. Matt Michinard recovered a muffed punt at the Jr. Raider 33-yard line.
After two long runs by Levonaitis and Estime behind blocks from Ric Sarkar and Adam Schebece, Hillsborough faced a fourth-and-9 from the Central 33-yard line.
Levonaitis took an option pitch from quarterback Tom Ramsey for 18 yards and a Jr. Raider first down. Three plays later, Ramsey again pitched to Levonaitis for a 13-yard touchdown run behind blocks from Seaton, Marsh and Swetz.
Hillsborough’s 14-0 halftime lead was in jeopardy in the fourth quarter when Central marched down inside the Jr. Raider one-yard line, where it had the ball 1st and goal.
On first down, Gerard Redden, Alex Marsh and Jon Seaton stuffed the Central ball carrier shy of the goal line. On second down, Central tried to run wide, but was stopped by a tremendous hit by Matt Michinard. On third down, Redden sliced through and again stopped the ball carrier at the one. After a pass interference call on 4th down against the Jr. Raiders, Central had a fifth try to score from just six inches away. However, the determined Jr. Raider defense showed its heart and grit when Jon Seaton, Redden and Marsh swallowed up the ball carrier shy of the goal line once again.
Trailing, 14-2, in the fourth quarter, Central drove down to the Jr. Raider 14-yard line. Justin Dietrich recovered his second fumble of the game after Alex Marsh jarred the ball loose from Central’s tailback. The Raiders offensive line behind AJ Vinchur, Tommy Haber and Michael Clerico began to wear down Central.
Levonaitis then broke free on a 73-yard run to take a 22-2 lead with just over five minutes left.
The defense remained stout on Central’s final drive. Anthony Shields, Kevin Rolon and Kevin Klein continued to make tackles and play well on the defensive end. Nick Fox broke up a fourth-down pass at the Jr. Raider 15-yard line to seal the victory.
Jr. Raiders JV bows to Watchung Hills
In a tough battle Saturday night, the Hillsborough Jr. Raiders JV Skyland team (5-6th grades) fell to the Watchung Hills Jr. Warriors 18-27.
Watchung jumped out to an early lead following a muffed kick off by the Raiders. By halftime, though, the Jr. Raiders were in front, 12-8, off two scores (in two ways) by Amankwaa.
The first was a signature weaving run around the right side. For the second score, QB Jamie Mazuera connected with Amankwaa on a 25-yard pass down the left sideline that Amankwaa had to lay out for, landing in the end zone.
At the end of the day, though, Watchung’s power running game proved too much for the Raiders.
The Jr. Raiders tip their hats to the Skyland JV champion Watchung Hills Jr. Warriors.