The Summit Hilltoppers have blazed through the 2009 football season so far, scoring over 40 points in each of their first four unbeaten games. Just three seasons ago, the Hilltoppers suffered a disappointing 0-10 season. Coming into Friday’s game against rival Governor Livingston, however, Summit enjoyed a gleaming record of 4-0 that set them comfortably in first place in the conference. Head Coach John Liberato has clearly turned this program around in just three years on the job.
Friday night’s game at Metro Homes Field was one of the more rowdy, energetic games so far this season. The game had a special significance, as the winner took home the first annual Investors Cup trophy.
“Tonight had a real championship atmosphere to it, which is great for our school,” Liberato said. “Tonight we were given a chance to showcase not only our football team, but also the great community of Summit.”
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The game was also about revenge, as the Hilltoppers faced the Governor Livingston squad that knocked them out of the state playoffs last year by just four points (32-28) in the sectional semifinals.
As the opening whistle blew, you could feel the energy in the air. Though both teams had early opportunities, including a missed 29-yard field goal by the Hilltoppers, the first quarter ended 0-0. Both squads kept the ball on the ground, relying on solid blocking and strong runs.
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Action picked up in the second quarter, as senior Matt Rea ran 28 yards for the Hilltoppers’ first touchdown of the game. Summit kicker Alez Melendez converted the extra point for a 7-0 Summit lead with 9:38 left in the half.
The second quarter was plagued by penalties on both sides, and frustration began to set in for Governor Livingston. At one point, they attempted a miracle touchdown play when they could have settled for a first down and advanced the ball up the field. With seven minutes left in the half, GL faked a punt and threw a wobbly ball that was nearly intercepted by an alert Hilltopper. Summit took over possession, and senior Dwaine Dabney made GL pay for their mistake by running four yards into the end zone for Summit’s second TD of the game. Summit 14, GL 0.
Despite their efforts, Governor Livingston had a tough time advancing the ball in the face of Summit’s strong, smothering defense. The Summit defensive line continued to swarm and apply pressure to GL quarterback Max Machado, who was the recipient of several sacks on the night by Hilltoppers Mike Watts, Brian Feeney, and Danny Feeney.
With just one minute remaining in the first half, Hilltopper Jake Hall intercepted a GL pass and ran it back 30 yards. Dwaine Dabney completed the drive, running 9 yards into the end zone on the following play, for a 21-0 Summit lead.
With just 40 seconds left in the half, as many fans shuffled to the restroom and concession stand, Governor Livingston remained focused on the field. The combination of a strong run and a Summit facemask penalty put the Highlanders in field goal range. With less than a second on the clock, GL scored with an impressive 35-yard field goal. Summit led 21-3 at the half.
Both teams started slow in the second half, and play remained stagnant near midfield for much of the third quarter. With 6 minutes remaining, however, GL sophomore Joey Graziano exploded for a 20-yard run to the Summit 5-yard line. GL was able to complete the drive and garner some hope, now only trailing the Hilltoppers by 11 points (21-10).
With the score tightened, the pressure was on the Hilltoppers to remain calm and collected. Summit quarterback Joe Jaskolski is known for his bullet-like passes, but he also made several clutch runs for the Hilltoppers, a few for first downs. With 1:30 remaining in the third, Jaskolski threw a 15-yard strike to Shawn Hillas for another Summit touchdown to make the score 28-10.
Governor Livingston kept fighting, reaching deep into their playbook for trick plays and reverses, but the Summit defense didn’t blink. In fact, the sacks kept coming.
Although GL was able to halt the Hilltoppers’ streak of 40+ point games, Summit was able to convert one more touchdown, courtesy of Matt Rea, halfway through the fourth quarter. When the final whistle blew, the Hilltoppers rushed the field in excitement, having won an important conference game and the first-ever Investors Cup trophy, beating Governor Livingston 35-10.
“Our kids played their hearts out. Everybody contributed,” Liberato said. “We rotated offense and defense to keep Governor Livingston on their toes. We saw that they crowded the line of scrimmage, so we made adjustments and were able to succeed in the end.”
“Governor Livingston has great coaches and great players. It’s a great rivalry,” Liberato said. “You can see the respect both teams have for one another, and for the hard-fought play on the field. We’re looking forward to a great Investors Cup rivalry, but we hope to keep the trophy here in Summit.”
With the win, Summit moves to 5-0 overall (3-0 in conference play); Governor Livingston falls to 2-2 (1-2 in conference play).
