Click below to listen to all four scoring plays from the 2022 Basilone Bowl, as heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio with Mike Pavlichko and Dom Savino:
SCORING PLAYS:
11:12/1st – Jay Mazuera 65 yd TD pass to Owen Bill (kick good)
2:00/2nd – Nasan Colson 10 yd TD run (kick good)
4:57/3rd – Patrick LePoidevin 2 yd TD run (kick good)
8:19/4th – Tyler Michinard 10 yd TD run (kick good)
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:
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: