They say hard work pays off. And for the 34 student-athletes on the Highland Park varsity and junior varsity football rosters this year, they really hope it does.
It’s truly remarkable that the program has its best numbers at any point during a span in which they have lost 33 straight varsity games, the longest active streak in the state, and whose span includes a 2018 season they couldn’t finish due to injuries and a lack of players, as well as a 2020 season the Owls played only at the jayvee level.
Much of the increase in turnout can be attributed to Shawn Harrison, the head coach, who played on the last Highland Park team to win a state championship, in 1990, which isn’t all that long ago, but also seems light years away.
READ MORE: Rebuilding Highland Park a labor of love for “program guy” Harrison
But they’ve had great teams and players since then. There were the L.J. Smith teams of the late-90s. Then there was the 2009 team that made it to the Central Jersey Group 1 finals, falling to Asbury Park.
The 2023 group may go down in history. It may not be for their win total, but if all goes as Harrison has planned, it’s because they will have laid the ground work for the rebirth of one of the state’s great, proud football programs.
It all starts Saturday afternoon against arch-rival Metuchen, a series that started in Highland Park’s first varsity season in 1937, and which they lead 61-23-1 all time. You can hear the game on Central Jersey Sports Radio with Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe calling all the action. Pregame is 12:45 pm with kickoff at 1:00. Click here to listen.
We got a chance to talk to two seniors, Danny Starcevic is a tight end, while Luis Flores is a wide receiver and outside linebacker. The two have endured in the program, in the name of something bigger than even the team: the program. Click below to listen.