Getting off to a good start after its first two games has been a Roselle Park trademark under sixth-year head football coach Terry Hanratty.
For the fifth time in his six seasons at the helm of the Panthers, Hanratty has guided Roselle Park to a 2-0 start.
This season’s version includes identical 33-7 scores over host Sussex Tech and most recently against visiting South Hunterdon.
Last Friday night’s home-opener at Herm Shaw Field – which was Roselle Park’s first Union Division clash – saw four different players score touchdowns. Devin Hilburn recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for Roselle Park’s first score and then Patrick Gergich completed a 55-yard pass to Dylan Camilo for the second Panther TD as Roselle Park built a 13-0 lead after the first 12 minutes.
Enzo Brutus scored from 25 yards out and Abel Crespo on a 35-yard run in the second quarter before South Hunterdon scored its only points on a touchdown run. That made the score 27-6 at intermission.
Roselle Park’s final touchdown was a four-yard pass from Gergich to Brutus in the third quarter.
Roselle Park is 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the Mid-State 38 Conference’s Union Division, while South Hunterdon is 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the Union Division.
South Hunterdon lost at New Hope-Solebury, Pa. 41-7 on Sept. 1.
Right now Roselle Park is preparing to host Union Division rival Dayton. The Bulldogs opened last Friday night at home and gave Belvidere all it could handle before falling to the County Seaters by the score of 17-14.
Against South Hunterdon, Gergich completed 3-of-8 passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns.
Camilo carred the ball eight times for 100 yards one one score, Vinny Figueredo nine times for 70, Brutus four times for 40 and one score and Crespo two times for 45 and one score.
Angel Tlanipa had one carry for 14 yards, Juan Morales one for 10 and Justin Bellante and Naazir Alexander each had two for five.
Brutus caught two opasses for 40 yards and one touchdown and Figueredo had one catch for 42.
Jawahn Gasque, Gergich and Hilburn each produced three tackles.
The only year Roselle Park did not start 2-0 under Hanratty was in 2014, with Roselle Park winning its first game and then falling at home to Bound Brook 23-21 in its second.
Here’s a closer look:
Roselle Park 2017 (2-0 start):
Roselle Park 33, Sussex Tech 7 – at Sussex Tech
Roselle Park 33, South Hunterdon 7 – at Roselle Park
Roselle Park 2016 (2-0 start):
Roselle Park 33, South Hunterdon 32 – at South Hunterdon
Roselle Park 32, Dayton 0 – at Dayton
Panthers made N2, G1 playoffs and finished 3-7.
Roselle Park 2015 (2-0 start):
Roselle Park 38, Pingry 0 – at Roselle Park
Roselle Park 29, Bound Brook 20 – at Bound Brook
Panthers made N2, G1 playoffs and finished 5-5.
Roselle Park 2014 (1-1 start):
Roselle Park 33, Pingry 0 – at Pingry
Bound Brook 23, Roselle Park 21 – at Roselle Park
Panthers won last 3 games to finish 5-5.
Roselle Park 2013 (2-0 start):
Roselle Park 21, Pingry 0 – at Roselle Park
Roselle Park 61, Manville 13 – at Roselle Park
Panthers made N2, G1 playoffs and finished 8-3.
Roselle Park 2012 (2-0 start):
Roselle Park 21, Pingry 20 (OT – at Pingry
Roselle Park 49, Manville 6 – at Manville
Panthers made N2, G1 playoffs and finished 9-3.