High Point Hawks win back-to-back championships

SUSSEX BOROUGH — The High Point Hawks football program recently won back-to-back championships in the New Jersey Youth Football League title games.

High Point's first championship contender was at the Super level where the Super Red faced off against Vernon's Super Gold.

High Point struck first as they rumbled the ball down the field on the back of Trevor Gruber and then delivered their first strike with an 5-yard touchdown run by Nick Douma in the second quarter, making the score 6-0.

In the third quarter, Vernon answered back with a rushing touchdown, making the score 6-6. On the next possession, High Point commanded the ball down the field again with Trevor Gruber ripping off notable power runs up the middle of the field only for the drive to be capped off by Daniel Delima with a 1-yard quarterback sneak, making the score High Point 12, Vernon 6.

Then with 2 minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Vernon tied the game at 12. With less than two minutesto play High Point had the ball on its own 35-yard line needing to move the ball 65 yards in less than two minutes to achieve victory. On the fifth play of the drive, High Point's Nick Douma broke a 37-yard gain putting Vernon on their heals. High Point quickly went into their hurry up offense when they ran a reverse opening up the outside for Nick Douma, who scampered his way to the end zone behind his convoy of blockers to score the game winning touchdown making the score 18-12. That wasn't the end though as Vernon still had one last chance with a fresh set of downs and 41 seconds left on the clock. Vernon took to the air only to be shut down four plays in a row by High Point's defense resulting in an 18-12 win.

High Point's second win of the day was a 37-0 win over Sparta at the Peewee level.

High Point struck first with a powering 34-yard touchdown run up the middle by Brendan Hall making the score High Point 7, Sparta 0. On the next series, Sparta went four-and-out, putting the ball back into High Point's possession. High Point wasted no time getting the ball back to Hall, who scored his second touchdown of the game on a 28-yard sweep making the score High Point 13, Sparta 0.

High Point's defense shut Sparta's offense out once again and got the ball back and began working it down the field. Ryan Kinkead topped High Point's 63-yard drive off with a 28-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Noah Cruz making the score High Point 19, Sparta 0 at the half.

High Point didn't let up there as they returned to the second half and unleashed the running fury of Brendan Hall, who punished his way off tackle for a 37-yard touchdown run, his third of the game, making the score High Point 25, Sparta 0. On High Point's next offensive possession, they got creative with a 40-yard end around by Noah Cruz which set up their next strike which was a 3-yard touchdown run up the middle by Connor Lake, making the score High Point 31, Sparta 0.

Throughout the entire game High Point's defense remained stout as the united gave up only two first downs. High Point capped the game off with an 85-yard touchdown run by Connor Milks, making the commanding final score of the game High Point 37, Sparta 0 and giving High Point their second championship victory of the day.