South Hunterdon football grabs BCC Freedom Silver title on Anthony Venettone's big night
DUNELLEN – To beat Dunellen and its ground-and-pound, time-killing run offense, South Hunterdon was going to have to play with a lead. The Eagles got right to it Friday night and never let up.
South Hunterdon scored on the game’s first possession and never trailed in a 40-22 triumph that clinched the Big Central Football Conference Freedom Silver Division title. The Eagles also won a division crown in 2021.
South has won six straight since a season-opening loss to Ewing. South improved to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in division play. The Destroyers (4-2, 2-2) could have forced a three-way share of the title with South and Middlesex, but the Eagles answered every test Dunellen gave them.
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Scoring first was big.
“For us, that was important because we have been here before and we know they want to move the ball methodically down the field and eat clock, so it was good we were able to score first,” said South coach Toby Jefferis. “You have to keep them behind the chains because they are picking up four or five yards a carry, even when you tackle them.”
Senior quarterback Anthony Venettone – who finished with more than 250 yards rushing – ran for 45 yards to the Dunellen nine on the first play of the game. He was sacked on the next two plays, but on a fourth-and-goal from the 17, Venettone hit Aaron Zalescik for a touchdown, giving the Eagles a 7-0 lead after the extra point.
“(Anthony) has the choice to throw or take the run if it’s there, we like to take a shot and hit some long balls and if not, he runs,” said Jefferis.
Dunellen replied with a 59-yard, 10-play drive capped by Chiekezie Ogbuewu’s 3-yard run to make it 7-6 after the attempted conversion was stopped.
The Eagles made it 21-14 on a Venettone run. A short punt set up the next Eagles’ touchdown after they had stopped the Destroyers at their 19, Venettone scored on a 30-yard run on the opening play of the fourth quarter for a 27-14 lead.
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“None of this would have happened without my line and the guys blocking for me on the edge,” said Venettone. “All night long, there were big gaps to run through and those guys set it up for me. They deserve all of the credit tonight.”
Ryan Rampel, and Ed Cooper would score in the fourth to put the game away. Rampel’s score was set up by a 28-yard pass from Venettone to Zalescik.
“It’s our job as a coaching staff to put our team in the best position to win, and putting it in Anthony’s hands does that for us. Even when other guys key in on him, others have the chance to step up and score,” said Jefferis.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Football: South Hunterdon clinches BCC Freedom Silver Division
