Raiders Go Up Against Formidable Summit in Saturday Game

Unless the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High football team will be hosting its sectional consolation game the weekend of Nov. 13-14 – which would be Saturday, Nov. 14, if that’s the case – then this Saturday’s 1 p.m. game against Summit will be the final home game of the year for the Raiders.

What local football fans will see is one of the most prolific and consistent offenses of any team in the northern part of the state.

Summit has scored 38 touchdowns and kicked one field goal in six games and is averaging 44.67 points.

The Hilltoppers are 6-0 for the first time since 1993 and seeking to win North 2, Group 2 for the first time since 1994 and reach the championship game for the first time since 1995.

A Wing-T, shot gun offense is sparked by a senior cast that includes Joe Jaskolski at quarterback, Dwaine Dabney and Matt Rea at running back and Marcel Godino and Shawn Hillas at wide receiver. 

Summit’s biggest improvement has been on defense, with senior linebacker Kevin McNany leading the way.

The Hilltoppers have given up only eight touchdowns and one field goal in six games, yielding 9.83 points per contest. Last year Summit gave up more than 20 points a game, yet still missed reaching the N2, G2 championship game by only a single score.

This year’s squad has clinched the program’s first winning season since a 9-1-1 finish in 2003 and eyes a 9-0 start heading into the North 2, Group 2 quarterfinals.

Summit also captured the first Mid-State 39 Conference-Mountain Division title. The Hilltoppers went a perfect 4-0 against all four of the Mountain Division opponents they were scheduled to play.

When Quintin Blackwell scored in the fourth quarter last Saturday against Westfield, it was the first points Scotch Plains (1-5) put on the board in four games. Blackwell is a junior that the Raiders will be counting on next season as a senior to lead Scotch Plains to bigger and better things.

A more-than-challenging schedule doesn’t get any easier for Scotch Plains after the Raiders face Summit.

Scotch Plains will wrap its regular season with tough games at Rahway (2-3) Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. and then at North Hunterdon (2-3) Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.

Rahway is at Plainfield this Saturday at 1 p.m. and North Hunterdon is at Warren Hills Friday night at 7.

Both teams are coming off wins. North Hunterdon scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter to beat Linden 21-14 at home last Friday night and hand the Tigers their first loss after four wins. Rahway blanked Hillside 22-0 last Saturday at Johnson’s Nolan Field in Clark.

SUMMIT HILLTOPPERS (6-0)

(H) Summit 42, Hillside 0

(A) Summit 48, Bernards 28

(H) Summit 49, Johnson 7

(H) Summit 45, Somerville 7

(H) Summit 35, Governor Livingston 10

(A) Summit 49, Cranford 7

Oct. 24 at Scotch Plains, 1 p.m.

Oct. 31 North Plainfield, 1 p.m.

Nov. 7 Pingry, 1 p.m.

Head coach: John Liberato

Section: North 2, Group 2

Record: 6-0

Home: 4-0

Away: 2-0

Points for: 268

Points against: 59

Shutouts: 1

Overtime: 0-0

SCOTCH PLAINS RAIDERS (1-5)

(A) Scotch Plains 26, Cranford 24

(A) Linden 35, Scotch Plains 0

(H) Warren Hills 12, Scotch Plains 6

(A) Immaculata 41, Scotch Plains 0

(H) Phillipsburg 40, Scotch Plains 0

(H) Westfield 30, Scotch Plains 6

Oct. 24 Summit, 1 p.m.

Oct. 31 at Rahway, 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 at North Hunterdon, 7 p.m.

Head coach: Steve Ciccotelli

Section: North 2, Group 3

Record: 1-5

Home: 0-3

Away: 1-2

Points for: 38

Points against: 170

Shutouts: 0

Overtime: 0-0