Home victory over Spotswood puts Owls 5-2 overall

Playing conditions were for the birds, but head coach Rich McGlynn said the Owls “wanted to send a message to all the teams in Group I . . . We want to be a playoff team that people fear and make a statement now." Senior running back Nate Smith continued his amazing play, rushing for 190 yards and four touchdowns as Highland Park won a waterlogged 45-13 victory over Spotswood at Jay H. Dakelman Field last Friday. The Owls (5-2) have won 19 straight contests against GMC Gold Division teams, with their final conference game on Friday, November 6 at 7 p.m. at home vs. Cardinal McCarrick.

Spotswood's (4-3) opening kickoff went out of bounds, setting up a 51-yard touchdown run by Smith. On the home team's next possession, Smith again rushed for paydirt. A rattled Spotswood botched their kickoff reception, and Tyler Rios recovered at the visitors' 11-yard line, then ran in the next play for a 19-0 lead.

David Webb pulled down his 11th interception of the season off a Shawn Weeks pass, racing 59 yards to the Spotswood one. A two-yard run by Smith and a conversion pass to Mike Long from senior quarterback Louis Middleton put the Owls up 27-0. Josh Gaines blocked a Spotswood punt, which was taken in by Long from ten yards out. Smith then scored on a 30-yard run early in the second period. After Mike Liming recovered an Owls fumble, Weeks hit Liming for a 15-yard touchdown to put the visitors on the board late in the half.

In the third period, Spotswood recovered another fumble and ran it in from 75 yards out, but 39-13 was as close as the Chargers could come. Middleton secured the victory with a 41-yard touchdown run, running from one side of the field to the other around a host of defenders.

"Louis looked like Barry Sanders on that run. [Their] fullback and running back went the same way. Louis did the rest," said McGlynn.

Up next for Highland Park is a potential playoffs preview, traveling to meet two-time Central Jersey champions Asbury Park on Halloween. "If we can win that game, we have a good chance of getting the #1 seed" in the sectional tournament, said McGlynn.

The team awaits word on the condition of Noah Kendall, who was taken off in an ambulance during the second half.