As Par Hills Takes Flight, Joyce Still Well-Grounded

Watching the footballs fly around his high school's field during pre-season practices, was a realist about his role coming into the 2011 season.

“I knew we had a really amazing receiving corps,’’ Joyce said. “I totally always accept the fact that we are a passing team. I came in thinking, ‘OK, if I get some carries, I’ll do what I can on the offense and that’s cool.’ Coming in I didn’t think I could get that many carries.’’

The senior running back has been more than an afterthought in the Vikings pass-oriented offense. His success on the ground might be pivotal to the chances of earning its first state title.

Par Hills faces Cranford on Saturday morning in the North 2, Group III title game to be held at Kean University in Union at 10 a.m. It will be the third time the Vikings have competed in a championship game, but the team has never emerged the victor. Players like Joyce are determined to change that.

Joyce, a 5-foot-9, 180-pound running back, was the player the Vikings gave the ball to when they lined up to score the winning touchdown in the . The road victory—in which they rallied from a 21-0 second-quarter deficit—vaulted the Hills into the title game.

Joyce is a very deceptive runner. He’s not the big bruising fullback type. He doesn’t have dangerous breakaway speed. But he does have enough elements of quickness and toughness to keep opposing defenses honest.

“Personally, I would just say I’m more of a quick-hitting runner,’’ Joyce said. “I’m not a power guy. I’m not the biggest person in the world. I do what I can.

“We tend to run straight dives and traps. The draw play is one of our biggest runs.’’

Joyce and the Vikings have been successful. He has rushed for nearly 800 yards and five touchdowns. The Vikings must have some success in its running game in order to give their quarterback Tyler Simms enough time to hit his receivers.

“C.J. being able to run the ball for 85-90 yards a game is the key to the season,’’ Parsippany Hills Coach Dave Albano said. “The four wide receivers and Tyler get a lot of the press, but being able to run the ball a little bit was really the key because some teams are putting five [players] in the box and leaving six in coverage and we were able to run the ball. We haven’t been able to do that in the past. They would just load up and stop the pass and we didn’t have another answer. This year we do.’’

Joyce doesn’t take the credit. He gives much of it to the Vikings offensive line which has shown dramatic improvement over last year’s 2-8 team and has been able to open holes large enough for him to pop through.

“Our offensive line has played amazingly well, giving Tyler as much time as he can and giving me some running lanes,’’ Joyce said. “Last year we hadn’t thrown the ball much and we were lacking in pass protection. They’ve picked it up so much. The coaches and the line have been working so hard all season.

“Mike Pietrowicz has played line since his sophomore year. Brian Moy I think is a two-year starter. We have a couple guys who are first-year starters like Luis Garcia. He’s playing great and so is Paul Walek. He’s a junior. They are all holding down the line. They are very consistent. We are not the biggest team in the world, but our linemen are very good with their form and their technique. I think that’s the number one contributor to why we are doing so well.’’

When Joyce is not running the ball, he is also doing what is needed in order to protect Simms and keep the Vikings offense moving.

“C.J. does everything for us,’’ Parsippany Hills QB Tyler Simms said. “If there’s a blitz coming, he picks it up. He always hits the hole. He always fights for extra yardage. He’s a nice back to have. I know that I can rely on him at all times."

Like a lot of the Vikings, this will probably be his last competitive game. A baseball player in the spring, he gets good grades and is considering a career in law. He is looking at colleges, but he’s not expecting to go to a school that would continue his football career.

“I’m planning on going to a D-I school, not to play, but for academic purposes,’’ Joyce said. “I’m looking at UMass-Amherst, Maryland and places like that. It’s really heartbreaking.’’

Of course, winning a state title would make leaving the game a little easier. Joyce really likes his team’s chances.

“It’s all about execution in football,’’ Joyce said. “You can draw up Xs and Os, but it all comes out to how you are going to perform in the field. Bottom line, we have a bunch of players who are going to perform every day.’’