Shane Donoghue – Central Jersey Sports Radio

For most of the first half Friday night, the 41-yard scoop-and-score by safety Tyler VanCleef was responsible for more yardage than the combined offensive totals of both Hillsborough and Bridgewater-Raritan.

But early in the second quarter, the Raiders’ embarked on a 66-yard drive than took 13 plays and 7:30 off the clock, ending with a 41-yard field goal by Sam Meechin. It was just the second of his career – and, in fact, just the second he’s attempted in the last two years – and it gave Hillsborough enough to withstand the answer touchdown from the Panthers before the teams went in the locker room.

Add a 59-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Tasetano to slot receiver Shane Donoghue with just under nine minutes to go – their third such connection in the first two games this season – and No. 3 Hillsborough came out with a hard-fought 17-6 win over Bridgewater-Raritan.

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There were a lot of three-and-outs in the first half, but it was less about offenses that couldn’t get going than aggressive defenses. Both teams went after the QBs and had several tackles for loss.

Against the triple-option offense of Bridgewater-Rartian, the Raiders were disciplined, with eight sacks. They also had two fumble recoveries – including VanCleef’s for a score – and an interception late in the game by sophomore Jackson Jankowicz.

Hillsborough (2-0) has now won five straight in the series, taking an 18-13-1 lead all-time. Bridgewater-Raritan (1-2) last won in 2017.

Click below to hear postgame reaction from the Big Central Game of the Week:

Senior slot receiver/defensive end Shane Donoghue

Head coach Kevin Carty, Jr.

Let’s make it perfectly clear: everyone who put up big numbers for Hillsborough’s undefeated, 13-0 state championship team in 2021 is gone.

You wouldn’t know it by looking at the scoreboard.

Just like last year’s team, which had played together since their days with the Junior Raiders, the 2022 version of Hillsborough High School football has some kids who’ve done the same. And Friday night, in their season opener at home, the Raiders found that connection as quarterback Ryan Tasetano found receiver Shane Donoghue for two long touchdowns, as the Raiders scored the first 35 points of the game in a 42-6 blowout of East Brunswick.

The win extends the Big Central Conference’s longest active winning streak to 14 games. That’s also the second longest active streak in the state, tied with Bergen Catholic, which has won 14 in a row, including a 12-0 state championship season last year, and a win in its final game of the 2020 COVID year. Only Caldwell – last year’s North Group 2 Regional Champion – has won more consecutive games: 15 and counting, with their season opener coming up tomorrow night at Morris Catholic.

It was the opening game for both teams, and next week, Hillsborough will play at arch-rival Bridgewater-Raritan Friday night, in a game that can be heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Rick Mantz, who won a title as a player (1980) and head coach (2020) at Hillsborough is now the Panthers’ head coach, adding even more juice to one of the Big Central’s biggest rivalries.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko with postgame reaction from Hillsborough’s season-opening win over East Brunswick: