Starting off the 2019 scholastic football season, is a “Game of the Week” matchup between Montgomery High School and Hightstown High School.
Hightstown is coming off a 2018 season the produced a 3-6 overall record and a 2-2 West Jersey Football League record.
Last season, the Rams offensively rushed for more than 1,700 yards and passed for more than 900.
On the other side of the ball, the team defensively gathered 369 tackles and produced 33 sacks becoming a constant spot of production last season.
For the 2019 season, the Rams look to continue constant defense as Coach Ryan Fullen will lean on returning senior defensive end, Tayo Isadare and senior defensive back, Jarrett Justice.
Isadare had four sacks and one fumble return in 2018. Justice gathered an interception and scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery in 2018. Both players made the All-West Jersey Football League Valley Division team.
On offense, Hightstown will have junior running back Jason Kollman, who produced 51 yards on six carried and scored two touchdowns.
Other notable players for the Rams are senior defensive back Jaydn Childs and senior offensive lineman Kyle Reiss.
This year on defense the Rams will use a variety of looks, which will include four down lineman in both a 4-3 and 4-2-5 set.
Montgomery is entering the matchup with the Rams off a 2018 season that produced a 2-7 overall record and 1-4 Mid-State 38 Conference record.
The Cougars are led by head coach Zoran Milich who enters his 21st season at the helm in Montgomery.
Offensively in 2018, the Cougars threw for more than 1,500 yards and rushed for more than 500 yards on the ground.
In 2019, the team will return sophomore quarterback Marco Lainez, who accounted for 1,325 yards through the air last season and connected for 13 touchdowns. Senior quarterback Ryan Furey will also return behind center this season.
The ground attack returns sophomore running back Alex Benitez, who ran for 363 yards and produced four touchdowns.
Another noticeable player offensively is returning senior wide receiver Lucas Kopecky who caught 59 catches totaling 777 yards in 2018.
The offensive line will also be bringing back senior Ethan Rizzi and Sebastian Ducharne.
Defensively, the Cougars produced 756 total tackles and seven sacks.
Key defensive returners are senior free safety Carter McFadden who last season produced 104 total tackles, senior linebacker Kevin O’Brien who accounted for 126 tackles last season, junior safety Weber Karsay who gathered 44 tackles.
Hightstown High School will travel to Montgomery High School on Sept. 6 to face the Cougars at 7 p.m. in Montgomery Township.