Highland Park football practices in the preseason on August 9, 2024. (Photo: Marcus Borden)
After snapping a 51-game losing streak in the final game of the 2023 season, Highland Park has taken a big step forward through the first half of the year.
They won their first three games of the season, giving them a four-game winning streak going back to last year, their longest stretch of success since starting 4-0 in the 2008 season.
After taking their first defeat of the year last week at the hands of Spotswood, the Owls are currently 3-1 with a 2-1 record in the Big Central Conference Freedom Gold Division, with a chance to get the fourth win of the year in a cross-divisional rivalry game against Metuchen (3-2) on Saturday afternoon.
Offensively, Highland Park is led by senior dual-threat quarterback Markos Hantsoulis, who has already recorded 12 total touchdowns – six each passing and rushing – through the first four games of the year. The Owls’ run game also features running back Zyaire Holland, who has 40 rushes for 232 yards and a touchdown. Wide receivers include Kosta Hantsoulis (seven catches for 187 yards and four touchdowns), Jaylin Adams (three catches for 72 yards) and Stamatis Hantsoulis (five catches for 39 yards).
It’s also been a strong start for the Highland Park defense, which has allowed an average of 10.5 points per game through the first half of the season. In each of the Owls’ three wins this year, the defense has allowed no more than seven points.
You can catch Saturday’s “Big Central Game of the Week” – presented by Bellamy & Son Paving – between Metuchen and Highland Park with pregame at 12:45 on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Kickoff is at 1 with Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas on the call. Click here to listen.
Click below to hear Highland Park head coach Shawn Harrison talk about the Owls with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Chris Tsakonas:
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