Markos Hantsoulis’ passing, 3 rushing TDs, help lead Highland Park to 3rd straight win, and himself to Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors for Week 2

“The streak” is so 2023.

The Highland Park Owls football program is on the upswing. Check that, it’s been on the upswing, they just hadn’t had the wins to show for it.

After snapping what was the longest active losing streak in New Jersey at the time – 51 games – with a win over Point Pleasant Beach in last season’s finale, a late addition between two teams that just wanted to play another game, Highland Park hasn’t lost since.

The Owls are 2-0, and have won three straight dating back to that 46-29 win over the Garnet Gulls on November second.

And Markos Hantsoulis is a big reason why.

Down several key players who were ejected following some tough stuff on the field in the second half of the season opener at Dunllen, Hantsoulis willed his team to victory, and not just on offense.

The team’s quarterback, the senior threw 7-of-11 for 52 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 139 yards on 13 carries, scoring twice in a 32-6 win last Friday night at Dayton.

But that wasn’t all. He also had a two-point conversion, and as a kicker, he sent two kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.

All were instrumental in the victory, earning him Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors for Week Two.

Highland Park hosts Brearley (0-2) Friday night as the Owls look to go 3-0 on the year and win their fourth straight overall.

Click below to see Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week Two Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Markos Hantsoulis of Highland Park:

The Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week is chosen from nominees by Big Central coaches. At the end of the season, one player will be chosen to receive a $500 scholarship courtesy of Bellamy & Son Paving. As always, we will recognize selected “Honorable Mentions,” and recognize all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

Ryan Turner, Ridge: The senior halfback lit it up offensively in a huge 34-7 home win over then No. 5 Hillsborough. He carried seven times for 85 yards, with 33 of those on a touchdown run, while also catching four passes for another 93 yards, including a 46-yard TD catch. He also had a diving catch at the one yard line to set up another Red Devils score.
Brenden Pacheco, Somerville: The senior quarterback helped his team in a big way as they earned a 42-7 win at Montgomery. He was involved in five total touchdowns, four as a passer, while also rushing for a 30-yard score himself. Overall, he was 12-of-22 passing for 215 yards in the win.
Alex Schwark, Summit: The Hilltoppers got 14 rushed for 143 yards and four touchdowns from the junior runningback in a “circle it on the calendar” matchup against Hillside, annually one of their toughest opponents in the United Gold Division.
Jahmir Beal, Woodbridge: In the “Big Central Game of the Week” presented by Bellamy & Son Paving on Central Jersey Sports Radio, Beal scored four touchdowns – three in the decisive second half – to lead the No. 3 Barrons to a 41-26 victory over visiting Plainfield. Beal had TD runs of seven, ten, two and three yards, rushing 22 times for 127 yards. He also had a 40-yard catch. On defense, the safety had eight tackles and three pass breakups, never coming off the field on either side of the ball, also playing on return and coverage teams.

Other Notable Performances:

Geoffrey Young, Belvidere: In a 21-0 won over Manville Friday, the junior two-way lineman helped pave the way for a 177-yard team rushing night on offense, while being active on defense. He recorded nine tackles, a forced fumble, one sack, and an interception.
Terrence Hanratty, Bernards: The senior linebacker recorded 13 tackles and an interception – and also had a fumble recovery – in a 7-0 win at Delaware Valley Friday night for the Mountain valley Trophy, which goes to Bernards for a third straight year. The defense he leads has given up just a single touchdown all year.
Fiheen Howell, Jr., JFK: The junior runningback scored some big touchdowns in a narrow 28-27 win at Governor Livingston Saturday. He carried 18 times for 191 yards, scoring on a 50-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. Then, he scored two fourth quarter touchdowns, including an 80-yarded that gave the Mustangs a 28-21 and the insurance they needed to hang on and win by one.
Evan Toth, Metuchen: The senior runningback carried 17 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns as the Bulldogs picked up a 35-28 win at Roselle Friday night, giving 3-0 Metuchen its seventh straight win dating back to last year, the second longest active streak in the state behind only Toms River North, which has won eight. From his linebacker spot on defense, he added four tackles, 2 TFLs, a pass breakup, and a pick.
Matthew Cudmore, Montgomery: In a tough loss at home to Somerville, the senior outside linebacker stood tall on defense. He recorded 12 tackles, ten solo, had one TFL, and sacked the Pioneers’ quarterback three times.
Donea “Kai” Fish, Rahway: The senior two-way lineman had a night in a 28-7 road win at Perth Amboy. In addition to a big pancake block on offense, on the defensive side of things he had five solo tackles – eight total – two TFLs, two sacks for a total of eight yards, and three QB hurries.
Dominic Massaro, South Plainfield: The junior runningback carried 15 times for 139 yards Friday in a 35-0 win at rival North Plainfield for the Tigers’ first win of the season.
Ryan Foster, Spotswood: In a 24-0 win Friday night at Brearley, the freshman wide receiver had seven catches for 112 yards and a touchdown.
Matthew Tramutola, Voorhees: The junior runningback is piling up the accolades. After a Honorable Mention nod last week, he was a workhorse again, rushing for 221 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries in a 33-0 home shutout of JP Stevens back on Friday night.