It’s been a while! Highland Park blanks Metuchen 35-0 for first Goal Post Trophy win since 2017

It’s been nine years since the Goal Post Trophy could be proudly displayed by the Highland Park football team, but now it’s back.

The Owls snapped a seven-game skid against their former Thanksgiving Day rivals – including a “did not play” forfeit win in 2018 – and shutout Metuchen 35-0 Friday night, on an evening when the program also retired the jersey of L.J. Smith, who went on to star at Rutgers and in the NFL.

The win was a bounceback over a 28-20 loss at Dayton last week that spoiled an otherwise perfect season, and gave the Bulldogs their first division title in 17 years. But it also was Highland Park’s sixth shutout of the season in nine games.

After Ziquan Grier’s 38-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Marcus Smith put the Owls up 7-0 in the first quarter, Smith scored twice in the second – on runs of 76 and 31 yards – to give the Owls a 21-0 lead at the half. Jacob Quiros scored on a one-yard run in the third and a five-yard run in the final quarter to round out the scoring.

Highland Park finishes the regular season 8-1, and will be in the South 2 playoffs, their first postseason berth since 2010. Metuchen’s regular season ends at 3-5.

Click below for postgame reaction from Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Marcus Borden with Highland Park head coach Shawn Harrison and senior QB Marcus Smith, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen!