Howard Princz

Highland Park came into Friday's contest against Keyport with a 4-4 record, uncertain whether they would qualify for the Central Jersey Group I playoffs. The outcome did not matter for the post-season standings -- that was settled by a game between Shore Regional and Metuchen the same evening -- but the team wanted to put in a strong effort in their regular season finale on Homecoming weekend.

Junior Quatay Nesmith garnered 127 all-purpose yards and scored two touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Alex Thomson of the Red Raiders threw for 154 yards and a touchdown, and ran for another touchdown, to power Keyport to a 32-22 victory over the Owls at Jay Dakelman Field.

After a big win against Metuchen, the Owls faced undefeated Middlesex High School in a near-monsoon Saturday night in Middlesex. Who would prevail in the struggle for survival of the fittest?

A wind-swept rain kept the contest unpredicatable and uneven for both teams. After letting the second-half kickoff go through his legs, Middlesex sophomore Kyle Brady ran down the loose ball and returned it 91 soggy yards for the only score of the contest, lifting the Blue Jays to a 6-0 home victory.

How does a team rebound after getting blown out 42-0 in its season opener? Simple -- just give the ball to Quatay Nesmith and let him take care of the rest.

The junior rushed for 191 yards on 19 carries and scored five touchdowns, as the Highland Park Owls rolled to a 47-27 victory over South River last Saturday at Denny Stadium.

"I told our players that one game doesn't make a season. There is a lot of football to be played," said head coach Rich McGlynn.

 

Despite competing against some of the larger high schools in Middlesex County, the HPHS boys and girls track teams brought home personal bests in the 2011 Greater Middlesex Conference Track Championships. Leading the way against the likes of East Brunswick, Piscataway, St. Joseph's of Metuchen and Old Bridge was sophomore Dierra Doyle, who helped the girls team finish 10th and earned gold in the shot put with a throw of 35-10.

 

The HPHS varsity baseball team came out to make a statement in the season opener Saturday at H.P.'s Austin E. Lepine Field.

Junior hurler Ben Vietze tossed a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts as the Owls exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to post a 9-0 victory over Bound Brook. Junior first baseman Jason Potts went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored in the ambush.

How do you spell offense? B-A-C-H-E-L-O-R.

The All-American Soap Box Derby is an annual family sporting event that has been going on since its origination back in 1933.

 

The tradition has continued on a local level in the metropolitan area, specifically the New Jersey Soap Box Derby since 2000. It is an event that was coordinated by retired New Brunswick police officer Bruce Hawkins and longtime city recreation director Michael Blackwell, who is now the New Jersey Soap Box Derby director and current president of their board of directors.

 

In four seasons at the helm of the Highland Park boys varsity, Tom Sclafani did an outstanding job to help change the landscape of local boys tennis. This year's squad will be led by a man who is a legend as a coach for both the boys and girls programs from the 1980s to now, Robert Kertes.

Kertes, who has been a mainstay in both girls and boys tennis programs at Highland Park, has some very important goals in mind. The girls squad won the GMC Blue division title eight of the last nine years, and also captured a Central Jersey Group I championship.

The Highland Park High School varsity wrestling team finishes 11-11 on the season and earned a lot of accolades along the way.

The Owls came up one position short of placing into the Group 1 sectional tournament, finishing seventh, but were led by a number of young and seasoned grapplers who showed their merit and strength in on the mat and off.