Before the kick-off to our JV football game on Sunday, September 23, the Hillsborough Dukes held a ceremony to celebrate 28 eighth grade cheerleaders and football players who will be graduating from the program this year. Many of the graduating class have spent 6-8 years donning the Dukes’ red and black insignia. Many of whom will continue on the play and cheer in high school.
Flag Football
The Dukes flag team played the Woodbridge Golden Saints on Sunday, September 23 at home.
Offensively, the Dukes had big runs from John Billings, Harry Bugal III, Jackson Karsay, Josiah Malek, and Jaxon Lugo. Billings and Bugal both scored a touchdown for Hillsborough.
The defense battled the whole game to keep the game tight. John Billings led the team with six flag pulls, Matthew Fedora, Jackson Karsay and Josiah Malek each had three and Jaxon Lugo came up with a big one as well.
We look forward to another home game on Sunday, September 30.
Mighty Mite Football
On Sunday, September 23, the Dukes Mighty Mite football team played the Golden Saints in Hillsborough. The Mighty Mite team improved their record to 4-0 with an impressive 34-21 score.
Sanjay Mills lead the scoring attack with four touchdowns and quarterback Aaron Feath added another one to pace the attack. Bryce Hayden and Ryan Spinelli added to the running attack with several key runs. Gavin Glazewski led the team with two receptions, one for a point after touchdown.
The defense held strong with Jack Schmelzer and Vincent Nedeski leading the way and keeping the Golden Saints offense in check in the second half of the game.
The Dukes play at home again on Sunday, September 30 against South Plainfield.
JV Football
On the first full day of the autumn under overcast skies, the Hillsborough Dukes JV team improved their overall record to 2-2 with an impressive win at home against the divisional rival Golden Saints of Port Reading. Once again, the Dukes defense featured prominently in the 28-0 win, with captains Billy Meszaros and Luke Scott delivering a number of punishing blows from bookended defensive end positions. Anthony Panatieri, Kyle Kolans and Jimmy Conover also bolstered the defense with several tackles and assists.
Offensively, the Dukes offense wasted no time hanging points on the board with strong runs by Jackson Roberts, Antione Hinton and Zion Harrison setting up Michael Schmelzer’s sneak up the middle for a touchdown on the Dukes’ first possession. Further stretching its legs during the second quarter, the Dukes offense seethed behind an impenetrable offensive line powered by Nathan Downey, Doug Toth, Devin Gonzalez and Brady Post. Sophomore sensation, Jackson Roberts had a 3-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter following a defensive fumble recovery by Hinton and, just before half time, quarterback Jack Moran found Michael Schmelzer on an out-route for a 15-yard passing touchdown. Zion Harrison’s hyper-sonic 62-yard touchdown run during the third quarter would cap the Dukes scoring for the afternoon. The Dukes were four for four on extra point conversions with Luke Scott, Zion Harrison and Michael Schmelzer all contributing to the scoring blitzkrieg.
Next Sunday the Dukes JV football team will host another in-conference opponent, the Montgomery Wildcats, with kickoff tentatively scheduled for 3 p.m.