No. 8 Hillsborough takes a knee to run out the clock in a 14-13 upset win over No. 1 and previously unbeaten Phillipsburg in the Rumble on the Raritan at SHI Stadium in Piscataway. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Even coming off an 8-3 campaign, there’s still a lot of room for improvement for the Hillsborough football team in 2024.
You don’t get to coach as long as Kevin Carty, Jr., has without always looking for ways your team can be better.
And so what better team to play in an opener than Somerville, which is loaded with talent, including D1 standouts like Tennesee-bound defensive end Jayden Loftin and Wake Forest RB/S commit Terrell Mitchell, not to mention uncommitted Brenden Pacheco, who will be looking to raise his stock this year.
You can hear the Big Central Game of the Week presented by Bellamy & Son Paving live on Central Jersey Sports Radio Thursday with game time at 7 pm, pregame 6:45 with Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas calling all the action. Click here to listen live.
Hillsborough certainly will have its challenges. Last year’s starting quarterback – junior Alex Reiling, a thousand-yard passer in 2023 – has decided to focus on baseball. Senior Ryan Seamon – who threw one pass last year, but who Carty also says would have challenged for the starting job in the preseason – will get his first career start.
The defense also lost some key contributors, in seniors Shayne Powell (4 sacks) and Jonathan Lobello (20 TFLs). And a young D could be tested by the Pioneers’ multiple-wide receiver sets.
The Raiders’ strength may be in their ground game. Senior Jackson Jankowicz is back, having run for 1,012 yards and eight touchdowns on 1999 carries last season, and the offensive line is not only more seasoned, but also bigger and tougher. Add to that the fact Carty wants to get him more involved in the passing game, and Hillsborough could put up some points.
Click below to hear Hillsborough head coach Kevin Carty, Jr., talk with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:
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