Hillsborough head coach Kevin Carty Jr. with his team after a 44-0 win over Old Bridge on Oct. 15, 2021. (Photo: Tim Catalfamo)
Richard Nixon had just begun his second term as president. Fed Ex made its first flight. A Charlie Brown Christmas debuted.
Hillsborough football went undefeated, 8-0-1.
That was the year before the playoff era, and not since have the Raiders gone an entire season undefeated. But they’ll have a chance to do that as the top seed in South Group 5, as Hillsborough (9-0) embarks on the 2021 NJSIAA playoffs Friday night, hosting 8th-seed New Brunswick (4-5).
Kevin Carty Jr.’s team hasn’t really had a hiccup. They closest they came to defeat was trailing 14-0 at home early in the season to Phillipsburg, but they came back to send the game to overtime, and won it 21-14.
Led by receiver/now-runningback and Rutgers commit Thomas Amankwaa, QB Jay Mazuera, tight end/defensive end Will Dixon and runningback Tyler Michinard, and a quality supporting cast, the Raiders may be the favorite through the entire playoffs.
But it won’t matter if they can’t beat the Zebras tonight at Noonan Field.
Click below to hear Dom Savino talk with Hillsbrough head coach Kevin Carty about the Raiders and their opening round matchup with New Brunswick: