It eliminated the idea that the two rivals would face each other both with 22-game winning streaks on the line. It took away the idea that the two teams would knock heads locally before taking their talents to Giants Stadium and their respective state championship games, like they did on that wintry and wondrous December Friday night a year ago.
Hoboken's loss to Verona a week earlier almost made Friday's mythical Hudson County championship game almost an afterthought.
"If both teams were still undefeated, I think the game would have been better played by both teams," said St. Peter's Prep head coach Rich Hansen, knowing fully well that his magnificent Marauders already had their ticket punched to head to the Mecca in the Meadowlands for a second straight year, a rematch with Don Bosco Prep awaiting. "I think that we didn't want to do anything stupid to get hurt before the Bosco game. I think that played in our minds a lot. You're always concerned with injuries and problems that can come up."
For the Marauders, the problem was the opposition's ability to run the ball right at them for a second straight week. First, it was Seton Hall Prep that showed the prowess on the ground against the state's No. 1 team. Now, it was Hoboken's turn, thanks to the powerful legs of the state's leading scorer, Damien Bates.
"You always worry about teams being able to run the ball right at us," Hansen said. "But these were two very good teams, ranked among the best in the state. Both had won nine games. Both were conference champs. We weren't exactly playing bottom of the hill teams."
But both teams were able to exploit a possible weakness, especially Hoboken, which used Bates right, left and up the middle, to the tune of 165 yards on 34 carries and two touchdowns.
"I'm very proud of the way our kids played," said Hoboken head coach Lou Taglieri. "After losing to Verona, I seriously didn't know what we'd get from them. It's very tough to lose a game like that and then come back and play the No. 1 team in the state. Sure, it's a mythical championship and it's a rivalry, but it's tough to tell that to the kids. But I was really surprised with the way we came out and played. We didn't do what everyone expected us to do. We were able to run the ball well. Bates was on a mission. No one ever had a game like that against Prep."
While Bates was on a mission, the game's determining factor was securing his place as a high school football legend - and mind you, he's only a junior.
There's no question that Prep's sensational Will Hill was the quintessential equalizer in Prep's 35-21 victory over Hoboken.
Because any time that the Red Wings thought they were getting close and had even the slightest chance of pulling the biggest upset in state history (no Group I team had ever knocked off the No. 1 team in the state), there was Hill to make a brilliant play that brought everyone back to reality.
Just how dominant was the multi-talented junior?
Here's a snippet:
· He threw two touchdown passes, one to Joe Valenti on the next to last play of the first half, and another to Mike Lang in the third quarter, both on plays where the Red Wings had the plays defended fairly well.
· He avoided a heavy rush when he dropped back to pass, then eluded every single Hoboken defender to dance his way to a 65-yard touchdown, untouched, giving the Marauders the lead for good at 14-7.
· And as the cherry on the sundae, Hill returned a kickoff return 99 yards for the final score of the day. And these are the kinds of performances that are becoming all too commonplace.
"After the game, I told people that we now know what other teams felt like when they had to defend Rashard Casey," Taglieri said. "Casey did some special things for us. And to think, he's only a junior? We have to play him again? It's truly remarkable to watch that kid play. You really appreciate what he's able to do."
There's only one problem with Taglieri's statement. As good as Rashard Casey was - and he was downright brilliant and the 1995 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year - he simply cannot shine Will Hill's shoes. No one can. He's like Roy Hobbs, "the best there ever was." Every time Hill steps onto the field and you're watching him, you know you're in the presence of greatness.
"This game was vintage Will," Hansen said.
See, the kid even has a vintage already.
"Seriously, that's what he is," Hansen said. "Give them credit. They fought with us the whole time. It was a bigger game for them than it was for us. They were ready. But you can't defend a player like that and what he's able to do in improvisation. You can think you have him defended and then he makes a big play. It makes all the difference in the world."
It certainly did last week. Hoboken was good. Will Hill was better.
It was the Marauders' 23rd consecutive victory and amazingly, the 61st straight win for the Marauders against Hudson County competition, dating back to 2000.
Now, the Marauders have one more mountain to climb, the rematch with Don Bosco for the NJSIAA Non-Public (Parochial) Group 4 state championship. It's No. 1 in the state against No. 2. This one will be a true state championship, because the winner will come away with New Jersey's premier status.
The Marauders won, 22-15, a year ago. They would like nothing more than to make it two straight.
"This is a whole different game, with the stakes higher," Hansen said. "Everything we've done over the first 11 games has been put to bed. Everything else doesn't matter now."
What does matter is that the Marauders will have No. 3 on their side.
"I wouldn't say it's rewarding, but it's certainly comforting to have kids like that on your side," Hansen said. "It's comforting to know that if you're going to war, you have the ammunition to get the job done. But in a game like this, so many things come into play. We can't afford to wait around for Will Hill or Shariff Harris to break off a big run. If we do that, we're in trouble. The biggest problem we have right now is stopping their run game. If we carry things out flawlessly, we have a chance to win. It doesn't matter who people thinks is better now, just who is the better team Friday night."
However, this is a team that ended its season last year at Giants Stadium, began its season this year there, and now returns to close out this season there again.
"I think that the experience helps and I hope that plays into it," Hansen said. "I think it has to mean something. We've been there and done that. We've played in front of the big crowds and done well. We just have to get it done this time."
If the Marauders have one mountain to climb in that team from Ramsey in Bergen County, then they know they already have a Hill who can do the climbing. The legacy of Will Hill will continue this weekend in Giants Stadium.
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