High Point plays Jefferson there Saturday, Aug. 30. (Photos by Maria Kovic)
The Jefferson Township High School football team runs onto its home field for the season opener against High Point on Saturday, Aug. 30.
The Jefferson cheerleaders
The High Point cheerleaders
The High Point band
The Kittatinny Regional High School football team won its season opener against Saddle Brook, 22-13, there Aug. 28.
Lucas Inglima scored the first touchdown for the Cougars on a five-yard run in the first quarter but his kick failed.
Jack Brex then scored on a three-yard run, and Inglima kicked the extra point.
Mike Strong caught a 27-yard pass from Brex to score in the second quarter, and Inglima again kicked the extra point.
Dylan Cerciello of Saddle Brook made a touchdown on a three-yard run in the second quarter but a pass attempt for extra points failed.
Vitiello scored again for the Falcons on a four-yard run in the third quarter and Joseph DeBari kicked the extra point.
A safety in the fourth quarter pushed Kittatinny’s score to 22.
Wallkill Valley wins
Wallkill Valley Regional High School edged Hasbrouck Heights, 14-13, in overtime there Aug. 28.
Mason York made a touchdown for the Rangers on a two-yard run in the first quarter.
Michael Napolitano of Hasbrouck Heights tied the game at 7-7 with a touchdown on a two-yard run in the third quarter and Brady Shine kicked the extra point.
In overtime, the Rangers’ Cole Bolich scored on a one-yard run, then Shine caught a 15-yard pass from Nico Nipitella to bring the score to 14-13. The kick failed.
Sparta loses
The Sparta High School football team lost its season opener to Montville, 38-22, on Aug. 28 at home.
Montville quarterback Jackson Gering completed 14 of 24 pass attempts for a total of 193 yards in the game.
Clement Hofbauer made two touchdowns and rushed for 111 yards, and Tyler Goldman scored once and rushed for 93 yards.
Also scoring for the Mustangs were Ricky Beyer and Brett Kunkel.
Dominick Grunke kicked a field goal and five extra points.
No statistics were available for Sparta.
Vernon loses
The Vernon Township High School football team was defeated by Warren Hills, 38-7, in its season opener Friday, Aug. 29 at home.
Nathaniel Kimkowski made the only touchdown for Vernon on a nine-yard run in the fourth quarter. Noah Rivera kicked the extra point.
Mekhi Garrett and Dom D’Aconti each scored twice for Warren Hills.
No other details were available.
Lenape Valley loses
The Lenape Valley Regional High School football team lost to Kinnelon, 20-12, in its season opener Aug. 29 at home.
Tyler Brennan and Kevin Giusti each made a touchdown for the Patriots on a one-yard run and nine-yard run, respectively.
Soren Porada, Skyler Porter and Matthew Siciliano each scored for Kinnelon and Siciliano kicked two extra points.
Hopatcong wins
Hopatcong High School, which finished with a 0-8 record last year, defeated Elmwood Park, 10-7, in its season opener there Aug. 28.
Michael Certo made a touchdown on a 29-yard run in the fourth quarter for the Chiefs. John Dos Reis kicked the extra point.
Dos Reis had kicked a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Elmwood Park’s Jesse Schratz scored in the first quarter on a pass by Cohen Watson. Watson completed eight of 19 pass attempts for a total of 149 yards during the game.
For Hopatcong, Kiyon Simpson rushed for a total of 70 yards and Certo for 67.
Other games this week:
Saturday, Aug. 30
High Point at Jefferson
Pope John hosts DePaul
Next week’s games
Friday, Sept. 5
Newton hosts Sussex Tech
Sparta hosts Lakeland
Vernon at Dover
High Point at Hackettstown
Wallkill Valley at North Warren
Pope John at Paramus Catholic
Hopatcong hosts Manville
Jefferson at West Milford
Saturday, Sept. 6
Kittatinny hosts Lenape Valley