Sivolella Suffers Serious Injury in Last-Minute Loss

Hanover Park may have lost more than a game on Friday.

Senior quarterback Jimmy Sivolella suffered a serious leg injury when he was run into while executing a punt in the third quarter of Hanover Park’s 21-14 loss to Jefferson.

Daniel Brown grabbed a 35-yard touchdown pass from J. R. Reese with 41 seconds left in regulation to lift the Falcons to victory on their homecoming night. The duo of Reese and Brown also hooked up on a 25-yard TD pass and Reese scored on a 1-yard plunge for Jefferson.

Sivolella was injured midway through the third quarter when he was hit by a Jefferson tackler while running to his right to execute a punt. The Hornets signal caller’s right leg was put into a brace. He hobbled off the field with support and was taken to Morristown Medical Center.

The Hornets outstanding three-sport athlete (basketball, baseball) and emotional leader was responsible for generating both Hornets scores. His 60-yard pass to Jaquill Scott set up Anthony Bassolino’s two-yard TD plunge in the game’s opening score midway through the first quarter. Sivolella scored Hanover Park’s second TD on a 1-yard run to give his team a 14-7 advantage just before the half Junior Matt Hoberman, who has had limited varsity snaps this season, took over for the Hornets and although he didn’t play poorly he was unable to lead Hanover Park to another score. Hanover Park dropped to 3-2 on the season.

1st

2nd

3rd

4^th

Total

Jefferson (4-1)

00

07

07

07

21

Hanover Park (3-2)

07

07

00

00

14

IN SHORT
Hanover Park took a 14-7 halftime advantage and seemed in control. A 60-yard pass from Sivolella to Jaquill Scott was the highlight of a 65-yard, 5-play drive in which Anthony Bassolino plunged in from the 2 to make it 7-0 midway through the first quarter. Jefferson tied the score but Hanover Park mounted a 15-play, 80-yard drive to go ahead just before the half. A 10-yard pass from Sivolella to Bassolino set up Sivolella’s one-yard plunge to the left side with 29 seconds left.

The game turned in the third quarter of the contest. The Jefferson defense stopped the Hornets on six plays on the Falcons 40 to open the third quarter. Jefferson marched 60 yards in six plays with the help of a 25-yard run by Reece, who plunged in from the one to tie the game at 14-all with 9:46 in the third quarter.

It was in the next series where Sivolella was injured after he got off the punt. Hoberman nearly got the Hornets into the end zone after the roughing penalty kept the drive alive but it eventually stalled on the 13. Tom Vaddakadam’s 30-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

The teams then exchanged possessions. Jefferson got the ball back on a punt and started from its own 22 with about three minutes left. The winning drive included two 16-yard pass plays from Reece to Vincent Ginefra and the 35-yard TD pass on a screen from Reese to Brown which was helped by an outstanding block by Ginefra on the corner

HORNET OF THE GAME
Jimmy Sivolella, senior quarterback — Sivolella is dangerous on the ground and in the air. He rushed for 73 yards and one touchdown. He only completed three passes for 72 yards but one was a 60-yard bomb to Jaquill Scott. He is also the team’s punter. When he was injured and hobbled off the field in the third quarter it took away the Hornets most talented player and fiercest leader.

TOP HORNETS OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES
PASSING: Sivolella (3 of 6 for 72 yards)
RUSHING: Sivolella (11 carries for 73 yards; one touchdown, Anthony Bassolino 15 carries for 73 yards and one touchdown )
RECEIVING: Jaquill Scott (three catches for 71 yards)

TOUGH OPPONENT
– J. R Reece, Quarterback—The junior does it all. He rushed for over 50 yards, threw the ball for nearly 200 yards and when the game was on the line he took the Falcons on a game winning drive. His ability to both pass and run makes his a very dangerous player in the eyes of Jefferson’s opponents.

THEY SAID IT
(New text)" We didn’t change what we wanted to do but Jimmy is a threat and that threat was taken away. You don’t replace Jimmy and no one should. The thing that I am proud of is Matt Hoberman stepped up and did his job. … Matt is a good quarterback. He’s a junior and he’s only going to get better. "–Hanover Park head coach Gerry Moore 

 Up Next – Riverdale Country Day (NY) at Hanover Park next Saturday.