Hasbrouck Heights football stuns Butler to shake up NJIC playoff race
· Yahoo Sports
HASBROUCK HEIGHTS — Matt Samperi provided the spark. Nick Haines supplied the firepower. Together, they helped Hasbrouck Heights shake up the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic Conference playoff race.
The Aviators, ranked No. 12 in the latest North Jersey Public Super 20, delivered one of the program's biggest victories in recent memory, knocking off two-time defending NJIC champion and No. 5-ranked Butler, 30-27 on Friday Oct. 2 at Depken Field.
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The victory not only snapped Butler's grip atop the conference, but also thrust Hasbrouck Heights squarely into the championship conversation when the NJIC playoffs get underway in two weeks.
Samperi ignited the Aviators with a series of momentum-changing plays on defense, while Haines accounted for key offensive production as Hasbrouck Heights overcame the Bulldogs in a back-and-forth battle that came down to the final minutes.
Samperi's tackle in the end zone for a safety early in the third quarter pulled Hasbrouck Heights within 14-8 and shifted the momentum. Haines then took over, scoring on a 13-yard touchdown run in the closing minutes of the third quarter before electrifying the home crowd with a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown early in the fourth, giving the Aviators the lead for good.
“I was lined up at the zero, I caught a free break and right there I made the play for the safety," Samperi said. "It feels awesome to be part of a great tradition. It’s an honor to play for this town. Our defense was physical tonight. Shout out to our coaches. They gave us all the answers to make the plays.”
The win marked Heights' first victory over Butler since 2019 as the Aviators improved to 4-2, while the Bulldogs fell to 5-1.
Players of the game
Nick Haines, Hasbrouck Heights: The junior scored three touchdowns and converted a two-point play to account for 20 of the Aviators 30 points. Haines had two 13-yard touchdown runs and returned a kickoff 95 yards. He rushed for 151 yards on 27 carries.
Ethan Diaz, Butler: The running back scored two rushing touchdowns. He opened the scoring with a 10-yard burst with 10:19 left in the first half. He scored again on a 24-yard run with 10:26 left in the fourth quarter.
They said it
“Butler is the class of the NJIC. I told my kids before the game that we are fortunate for the opportunity to play for something that mattered. They responded. We’re a bit dinged up. We have two key guys out right now. I’m just so proud of the way we kept responding. We’re not the biggest, but we’re scrappy. We talked about 48 minutes. Forty eight minutes and let’s see what happens.” - Hasbrouck Heights coach Eddie Suri.
“It was a great week of practice. We went over a lot of different plays, more than usual. We executed tonight. Our offensive line stepped up. It’s the best game they’ve played all year.” – Haines.
My Take
Hasbrouck Heights may have turned in its most complete performance in recent memory. After a sluggish start, the Aviators gained momentum and took control in the second half. The turning point came early in the third quarter when Samperi stuffed Butler running back Diaz in the end zone for a safety, trimming the deficit and injecting life into the home sideline. The Aviators played with growing confidence and energy.
Six games into the season, Hasbrouck Heights appears to be hitting its stride at the perfect time. While the Aviators may not overwhelm opponents with size, they make up for it with toughness and relentless effort. If Friday night's upset proved anything, it's that Hasbrouck Heights belongs in the NJIC championship conversation. Coming into the game, Butler had won 33 of its last 36 games. With momentum building and confidence growing, the Aviators look every bit like a legitimate contender heading into the postseason.
Up next
Hasbrouck Heights will close out the regular season at home against Miller Place (New York) next Saturday Oct. 10 at 1 p.m.
Butler will have an opportunity to regroup after the loss as they await their next opponent.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Hasbrouck Heights football stuns Butler to shake up NJIC playoff race