Tag: Kevin Carty Jr.

by Mike Pavlichko

Hillsborough continues to roll right into Central Jersey Group 5 title tilt, thanks to Michinard’s record 7 TDs

To be sure, there is plenty of excitement around Hillsborough High School these days, as the Raiders’ football team is having unprecedented success.

They are 11-0, and will host the Central Jersey Group 5 title game next Friday night, their first title game of any kind in 21 years.

But it’s fair to say little Hillsborough does surprises anyone these days.

That includes the score of their semifinal game against 5th-seed Williamstown Friday night, a 49-14 triumph that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score indicated.

Then again, maybe they have some surprises left.

While Tyler Michinard has been a critical part of the Raiders’ success this year, not even he would have predicted he’d score seven touchdowns in a 49-14 win over the Braves. But that’s exactly what happened, setting a program single game record.

The win sets up a rematch of another regular season drubbing by Hillsborough, against third-seed North Brunswick, which they beat 41-0 just three weeks ago. North Brunswick erased a 14-0 deficit at second-seed Cherokee Friday night and stunned the Chiefs with a 34-21 win.

And here’s another surprise, another first for Hillsborough: next Friday night will be the Raiders’ first time ever hosting a state championship game.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Tim Catalfamo with postgame reaction from Noonan Field Friday night:

Hillsborough runningback Tyler Michinard
Head coach Kevin Carty, Jr.
by Mike Pavlichko

Hillsborough – trying to finish unbeaten for the first time in nearly 50 years – still have work to do to bring home a title

Richard Nixon had just begun his second term as president. Fed Ex made its first flight. A Charlie Brown Christmas debuted.

Hillsborough football went undefeated, 8-0-1.

That was the year before the playoff era, and not since have the Raiders gone an entire season undefeated. But they’ll have a chance to do that as the top seed in South Group 5, as Hillsborough (9-0) embarks on the 2021 NJSIAA playoffs Friday night, hosting 8th-seed New Brunswick (4-5).

Kevin Carty Jr.’s team hasn’t really had a hiccup. They closest they came to defeat was trailing 14-0 at home early in the season to Phillipsburg, but they came back to send the game to overtime, and won it 21-14.

Led by receiver/now-runningback and Rutgers commit Thomas Amankwaa, QB Jay Mazuera, tight end/defensive end Will Dixon and runningback Tyler Michinard, and a quality supporting cast, the Raiders may be the favorite through the entire playoffs.

But it won’t matter if they can’t beat the Zebras tonight at Noonan Field.

Click below to hear Dom Savino talk with Hillsbrough head coach Kevin Carty about the Raiders and their opening round matchup with New Brunswick:

by Mike Pavlichko

This Week in the Big Central – Episode 9: The Home Stretch

Episode 9 of “This Week in the Big Central,” driven by Mark Montenero and his team at the world-famous Autoland, focuses on the push to the playoffs just one week out from Cutoff Weekend.

Mike Pavlichko looks back at the week gone by and the playoff implications of some of the Week Seven games, then examines who’s in – and who’s on the bubble – down the home stretch of the season.

We hear from founding sponsor Elite QB, with Coach Matt Bastardi’s “Elite Performers of the Week,” and a look at the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week, Montgomery’s Alex Benitez, who caught the ball, ran the ball, kicked the ball and intercepted the ball in a win over Scotch Plains-Fanwood.

Mike wraps it up with a look at the Week Eight slate.

by Mike Pavlichko

No. 2 Hillsborough rolls to 7-0 with 44-0 win over No. 5 Old Bridge, as Dixon scores twice

Tight end Will Dixon probably gets more attention for how disruptive he can be on defense.

It was Dixon, after all, who got in the face of Phillipsburg’s quarterback before Tommy Amakwaa picked off a pass in overtime to seal a win against the Stateliners.

On Friday night at Noonan Field, Dixon got into the act offensively for No. 2 and undefeated Hillsborough, with the first two-touchdown effort of his career, en route to a 44-0 win over fifth-ranked Old Bridge.

The win moves the Raiders to 7-0, while Old Bridge drops to 5-2.

Hillsborough travels to Piscataway next week, before North Brunswick comes to town on Week 9. Old Bridge will play at JP Stevens next week, then host Sayreville.

Click below for postgame reaction from Noonan Field with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Tim Catalfamo:

Hillsborough tight end/defensive end Will Dixon

Hillsborough head coach Kevin Carty, Jr.
by Mike Pavlichko

No. 6 Old Bridge and No. 2 Hillsborough have a lot at stake when they meet Friday night

Friday night’s clash at Noonan Field is a big one for a lot of reasons.

Both teams are ranked.

The 6th-ranked Knights have just one loss on the season, while No. 2 Hillsborough is undefeated.

It’s the triple-option with Lawrence Hunter III and Owen Haughney against the one-two punch of Tommy Amankwaa and Tyler Michinard.

It’s also huge for the playoffs.

The Raiders are currently fourth in the South Jersey Group 5 UPR standings, with Old Bridge fifth. And both are still in play for a potential top two finish, which would give them a top seed once the teams are sorted out, and home field through the sectional finals.

But, perhaps after Friday night, only one of those teams will be in play.

Pressure, anyone?

Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Tim Catalfamo will be providing live updates of the contest during the Big Central Game of the Week driven by Autoland, No. 7 Cranford at No. 4 Woodbridge, which begins at 7 pm. He’ll also have postgame reaction on cjsportsradio.com later in the night.

Click below to hear Tim Catalfamo preview the matchup with both coaches:

Hillsborough head coach Kevin Carty Jr.

Old Bridge head coach Anthony Lanzafama
by Mike Pavlichko

This Week in the Big Central – Episode 7: The Midway Point

Half the regular season is in the books in high school football across New Jersey, and we talk about it on Episode 7 of “This Week in the Big Central,” driven by Mark Montenero and his team at the world-famous Autoland!

Mike Pavlichko starts the show with a look at the playoff standings – interrupted by a mild rant on the state’s multiplier formula for power points.

Then, it’s a look at the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week, South Brunswick’s Khiri Summers, who had three receiving touchdowns on offense, and two interceptions on defense, against Monroe.

Mike and Dom Savino wrap it up with a look at the Week 6 slate, including some playoff implications.

by Mike Pavlichko

No. 3 Hillsborough was in control virtually wire-to-wire in 42-14 win at No. 5 Ridge

Hillsborough’s schedule might be one of the toughest in the Big Central.

Night in, night out, it seems like another tough opponent.

But the third-ranked Raiders have met every challenge, and then some.

Friday night, they went on the road to face No. 5 Ridge, and came away with a 42-14 win.

Click below to hear Raiders’ head coach Kevin Carty Jr. talk about the victory with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

by Mike Pavlichko

No. 3 Hillsborough gets it to all the right people in 31-21 road win over rival Bridgewater-Raritan

Wide receiver Thomas Amankwaa scored two rushing touchdowns, while bruising runningback Tyler Michinard had a touchdown catch.

No, that’s not a typo.

But that helped No. 3 Hillsborough beat rival Bridgewater-Raritan in the “Battle of Route 206” Saturday afternoon at Basilone Field, 31-21, in the “Big Central Game of the Week” driven by Autoland on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

Amankwaa – who recently committed to Rutgers – finished with four rushes for 82 yards, including touchdown jaunts of 37 and 21 yards, as well as six receptions for 54 yards. He was named the Autoland “Player of the Game” and willl receive a custom football at the end of the year, courtesy of Autoland.

Hillsborough (4-0) also got a 16-yard TD reception from Tyler Michinard, and a 26-yard scoring catch from tight end Will Dixon.

The Raiders face Ridge next week, while the Panthers (2-2) will travel to No. 9 Phillipsburg Friday night.

Click below to hear postgame reaction from down on the field with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

Autoland Player of the Game Thomas Amankwaa

Head Coach Kevin Carty, Jr.
by Mike Pavlichko

Hillsborough has its sights set high with 1-2 combo of Mazuera and Amankwaa

With 37 career touchdowns and over 3,100 yards rushing, plus a solid career at linebacker with over 120 tackles, Sean Levonaitis will be missed at Hillsborough.

But those who haven’t graduated and remain on the Raiders’ roster still have a good feeling about the 2021 season, which begins next on Friday, September 3rd, when they host Hunterdon Central.

That’s because they have a significant amount of talent back at key positions on the field.

Not the least of which are two young men who have known each other since their ages were single digits: quarterback Jay Mazuera and wide receiver Tommy Amankwaa.

They not only are a potent combo, but one that is made up of a pair of kids virtually on the same wavelength, an intangible that’s difficult to counter for any defense.

Click below to hear Amankwaa, Mazuera, and their head coach Kevin Carty, Jr., talk about the upcoming season with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

Seniors Tommy Amankwaa and Jay Mazuera:

Head Coach Kevin Carty Jr.: