FOOTBALL
By: Tim Falls
Steinert needed its starters the whole time.
That says something about the Hopewell Valley Central High School varsity football team.
The Spartans edged the Bulldogs, 21-12. The score may have been a palindrome but it was still quite close.
Hopewell concluded its Colonial Valley Conference season with a record of 3-6 and clinched a share of the Patriot Division with a 3-1 showing against division opponents. It was a considerable improvement over the 1-9 outing last season and the 0-10 record Hopewell had the season before as the school brought back its football program.
Hopewell could claim a fourth win this season in its NJSIAA consolation game at 7 p.m. tomorrow (Friday) away against Delaware Valley.
While the Bulldogs still have ground to cover, and they showed that through several costly mistakes against Steinert, Hopewell has grown into a better program and has taken several big strides this season.
"Last year, we were playing other teams’ JV in the second half," said Hopewell coach Dave Caldwell. "This year, in a lot of games, we’ve been facing the first string all game."
Steinert certainly couldn’t put in anybody but its best with the Bulldogs continuing to threaten until late in the fourth quarter.
The Spartans took a quick lead after a turnover as Hopewell fumbled on the opening possession of the first quarter.Steinert’s John Dohanic ran in a touchdown after Hopewell gave up the ball on the nine-yard line.
"They scored early," said Hopewell junior Ryan Clements, "but we gave them that touchdown with that fumble."
After that blunder, Hopewell held Steinert scoreless for the rest of the first half.
Hopewell got a break of its own as Steinert fumbled inside its own 20-yard line on the first possession in the second half.
The Bulldogs took over and quarterback Drew Barnabei connected on a 16-yard pass to Clements for a touchdown.
Hopewell missed the chance to tie the score when the snap on the extra point attempt went high and the Spartans were able keep their one-point advantage (7-6).
Steinert responded with a 68-yard touchdown run by Jim Costello.
Barnabei answered that with a 75-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Cassavell and gave Hopewell another opportunity to tie the game. Unforunately for the Bulldogs, the Spartans stopped the two-point conversion attempt.
"Not making that first extra point hurt us," said Clements. "It made us have to go for two on the second touchdown, and not making that kept us behind."
Steinert came right back and scored a third touchdown and then stopped Hopeell.
"We were strong on defense and on offense," said Caldwell. "We answered back every time, they just had one more answer than us."
If not for the opening fumble and the snap that went awry, Hopewell would not have trailed Steinert by much.
"We knew Steinert would be tough," said Clements. "We could have won this game if we played up to our potential."
Along with being the last CVC game, it was also senior day to honor the Hopewell football players making their last appearance on their home field.
"We told them to leave it all out on the field," said Caldwell. "They came out and battled. They were in it until the end. They left it all out there."