Hillsborough brings five-game win streak into Central Group 5 semifinal at Rancocas Valley

The Hillsborough football team is a different team than the one that started the year, and that’s a good thing.

The Raiders have won five straight games since starting the season 2-3, alternating between wins and losses, and now they’re one win away from heading to a sectional final for the second time in four seasons.

That 13-0 team from 2021 was a team with a generational talent in Tommy Amankwaa. This one has had to fight and claw a little more, but they may have just as good a shot to reach the final, nevermind that it would very likely be against Toms River North, the two-time defending Group 5 champions

But first they have to get there, and to do that, the third-seeded Raiders (7-3) will have to go on the road Friday night at 6 and come home with a win over second-seed Rancocas Valley (8-2).

It won’t be an impossible task, but it’ll still be a challenge. The Red Devils’ two losses – to Pascack Valley in the Battle at the Beach in Week 0, and at Camden on September 27th – came to a pair of teams who are the top-seeds in their respective playoff sections. They’re also averaging just under 33 points a game, and are coming off an opening round win over seventh-seed Edison last weekend.

Hillsborough is led offensively by Jackson Jankowicz, the senior runningback who has rushed for over 1,100 yards and 20 touchdowns this season and also has 26 receptions for almost 400 yards, leading the team. QB Ryan Seamon has passed for exactly 1,300 yards and thrown three TDs.

Rancocas, meanwhile, has a junior QB who has thrown for almost 1,800 yards and 22 touchdowns, while three different runningbacks have rushed for over 400 yards this season, and receiver Brody Deiter has 59 catches for 1,085 yards and 15 scores.

And two younger players lead the defense in getting after the quarterback. Sophomore David Ogunsola (9) and freshman Michael Beasley (7) have combined for 16 of the team’s 23 sacks this season.

Click below to hear Hillsborouogh head coach Kevin Carty, Jr., talk about the Raiders and Friday’s playoff game with Rancocas Valley: