To borrow a phrase from the late, great, legendary WABC disc jockey Dan Ingram, the Hillsborough high school football team’s Saturday got off like a “thundering herd of turtles.”
Translation: It wasn’t going so well, giving up a long touchdown to Westfield in the opening play from scrimmage, and they were down 14-0 before the fans’ were settled in their seats.
Then, a funny thing happened.
The defense settled in, the offense found its groove, and when the teams went into the locker room at halftime, the Raiders had a 21-14 advantage.
In the end they got 134 rushing yards and four touchdowns from senior runningback Andrew Schwarz – who had just 15 and one score in the first half – and 257 yards passing from senior QB Devon Khurana.
Westfield scored just 20 seconds in on a 71-yard TD run by Luke Spaide. Halfway through the period, QB Jordan Walsh’s ten-yard run had Boro down two scores.
Then, the Raiders woke up. They forced turnovers on downs on defense, and they hit big plays on offense.
Devon Khurana hit his twin brother Shane for a 71-yard TD on the only play of the drive at 10:25 of the second period.
Another quick drive in the next possession only needed three plays, capped by a nine-yard run by Schwarz at 7:49.
Then, a four-play, 75-yard drive nearly ended the half, with Shane Khurana grabbing a seven-yard TD catch with :28 left to make it 21-14 with the PAT at the half.
In the second half, it was more of the same. Schwarz added touchdown runs of four, 34 and 50 yards, and though Westfield got a late score, Schwarz’ final TD iced it with 6:02 to go, a scamper from midfield on the second play of the possession.
The win leaves the Raiders – who were in desperate need of a win – 2-4 heading into a huge rivalry game at home against Bridgewater-Raritan (5-1) next Friday night. Westfield (2-4) will visit North Brunswick (0-6) next Friday.
Click below for postgame reaction from Hillsborough seniors Devon Khurana and Andrew Schwarz, as well as head coach Kevin Carty, Jr., presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen!
