Hopatcong takes the Section 1 Group 2 State Title

A few years back, I told Jerry Venturino that when he was a senior in high school, the Hopatcong High School football team would win it all. Even back when he and his teammates were 11-12 years old, I could tell that they had the skill and unity of which Hopatcong had never before seen on a football field. On the first Saturday in December, my prophecy came true. Jerry led the way with nearly 400 yards passing as the Chiefs came back from 21 points down against a tough Mahwah team. After years of mediocrity, Hopatcong became the Section 1 Group 2 state champs, clinching the victory on a field goal with seven seconds left, giving them their first lead of the game. It was truly amazing and some articles about the game even used the word 'miracle' to describe it. Maybe it was. Or maybe it was the grit and determination of a team that never gave up. Read the full story...