Hanover Park 41 Pequannock 9
October 5, 2024
Hanover Park jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the game’s first two minutes and the Hornets were in control for a 41-9 win.
First Quarter: Alex DeLitizia fumbled the snap on the opening play and Hanover Park recovered on the 35-yard line. Joey Borrello found Joey Filippone for 13 yards to the 10 and on a screen the following play for a touchdown. Pequannock punter on their next drive and Hector Lopez III broke through the line to block the punt on the 25, scooped it up on the 5, and ran in for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead. Hanover Park moved the ball later in the quarter but turned it over on downs.
Second Quarter: After Pequannock punted, Hanover Park had the ball on the Pequannock 48. A 30-yard pass to Jack Kovacs brought the ball to the 18 and two plays later a pass from Borrello to Joey Tantawi for a touchdown. Pequannock was faced with a fourth-and-1 on their 30, went for it, and lost one yard on a run by Angelo Cundiff on a hit by Filippone. Two plays later, Borrello found Darien Iannacone on a screen and a 26-yard touchdown as Iannacone went through tacklers down the left sideline, making it 28-0 with 4:445 left. Hanover Park had the ball again, but Nick Pownall intercepted and Pequannock had the ball on HP’s 48. DeLitizia found Nick Zuccala behind the defense for a 24-yard score with 18 seconds left.
Third Quarter: After exchanging punts, Hanover Park had the ball on their 17 when the shotgun snap went over Borrello’s head and out of the end zone for a safety. After Pequannock turned the ball over on downs, Jack Kovacs went 44 yards on the jet sweep to the 1. Borrello scored on the next play to make it 35-9 with 1:30 left in the quarter.
Fourth Quarter: Early in the quarter, the teams substituted freely and I left to go to my next game at Passaic Valley.
Comments: Hanover Park jumped on Pequannock early and their speed overwhelmed them. The Hornets had excellent lateral speed on defense, forcing Pequannock runners wide and unable to turn upfield. Borrello was 11-15-159 and 3 touchdowns in the first half and the Hornets were never in trouble.
Pequannock had a day they would like to forget. The Panthers were in an early hole and only had 96 yards and seven first downs on offense when I left in the fourth quarter. They were not in Hanover Park territory until the first half’s last drive. As mentioned earlier, they were overwhelmed by the Hanover Park speed and must find a way to overcome that.