Raiders Ready for New Football Rival

For a team that has most of its players gaining their first varsity experience and one that is coming off a tough loss to a more talented Linden squad, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High football team will welcome being home for the first time this season.

While the Raiders are preparing for a new opponent — Mid-State 39 Conference-Raritan Division foe Warren Hills — they do have a resumé that includes success against the Warren County opponent.

In the 2003 and 2004 North 2, Group 3 quarterfinals, Scotch Plains defeated Warren Hills both times. The Raiders won 10-0 at home in 2003 and 21-0 on the road in 2004.

This game begins a three-game stretch against former Skyland Conference squads, with Immaculata and Phillipsburg to follow.

"This is the part of our schedule where we have to go out and learn about new opponents," Scotch Plains head coach Steve Ciccotelli said.

Kickoff at Scotch Plains' FieldTurf field is set for 1 p.m. Saturday.

Both teams are 1-1, with Warren Hills coming off a 14-3 home win against Delaware Valley last Thursday night. Whereas Scotch Plains has opened with two road games, Warren Hills has opened with two home dates and will be getting on a bus for the first time.

After a thrilling come-from-behind triumph at Cranford 26-24 on Sept. 12, the Raiders did not find the going as easy last Friday afternoon against host Linden at Cooper Field.

Scotch Plains went three-and-out on its first possession and senior quarterback Gary Binkiewicz didn't have close to the amount of running room or throwing accuracy he had against the Cougars.

Scotch Plains had nearly no offensive yardage at all and only mildly threatened to score once in the first half by getting inside the Linden 25.

The Raiders might have gone up against one of the top Linden teams in some time, with the home Tigers led by three-year starting senior quarterback Trell Myers, who was coming back from an ankle injury he suffered in the pre-season while playing safety. Myers, a lefty thrower, passed and ran for one touchdown.

Linden managed to defeat Scotch Plains for the second year in a row for the first time since 1995 and 1996. Scotch Plains defeated Linden in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and in this decade went 7-3 against the Tigers.

Scotch Plains will seek to get some momentum from its home crowd against a Warren Hills squad that opened with a 34-12 home loss to Phillipsburg on Sept. 11 and has not had a winning season since going 6-5 in 2005 and reaching the North 2, Group 3 semifinals.

Warren Hills won only one game last year, just two in 2007 and only three in 2006.

Against Delaware Valley last week, Taylor Rush gained 153 yards on the ground in 30 attempts and scored both of his team's touchdowns in the first half. His touchdown runs went for 14 in the first quarter to give his team a 7-0 lead and eight in the second for a 14-0 advantage. Tyler Adams kicked both extra points.

Head coach Larry Dubiel is in his second season at the helm after succeeding Rob Cacchio.

NOTES: After Scotch Plains defeated Warren Hills in the playoffs in 2003, the Raiders went on to reach the N2, G3 final, falling to Ridge 27-0 at Giants Stadium. Scotch Plains finished 10-2 that season and Warren Hills 7-3.

After Scotch Plains beat Warren Hills in the playoffs in 2004, Scotch Plains fell at West Morris 28-21 in the N2, G3 semifinals and then edged Elizabeth 13-12 at home on Thanksgiving to finish 6-5. Warren Hills concluded at 7-3.

The Warren Hills game begins a stretch where Scotch Plains will play four of its next five games at home, which are all of its regular season home dates this year — not counting a possible sectional consolation game the second weekend in November. 

Also after Warren Hills, Scotch Plains will be playing five consecutive teams that made the state playoffs last year, with three of them — Immaculata, Phillipsburg and Rahway — competing in state championship games.

Immaculata finished 10-2 and lost to St. Joseph's of Montvale 27-6 in the Non-Public, Group 3 final at Rutgers.

Phillipsburg concluded 10-2 and defeated Rahway 20-6 in the North 2, Group 3 final at Rutgers. Rahway also went 10-2.

"It's a tough schedule, there's no doubt about it," Ciccotelli said. "I like the new conference and the setup this year. It will continue to be very challenging for us." 

WARREN HILLS BLUE STREAKS (1-1)

Sept. 11 (H) Phillispburg 34, Warren Hills 12

Sept. 17 (H) Warren Hills 14, Delaware Valley 3

Sept. 26 at Scotch Plains, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Montgomery, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9 Immaculata, 7 p.m.

Oct. 16 at Ridge, 7 p.m.

Oct. 23 North Hunterdon, 7 p.m.

Oct. 30 Voorhees, 7 p.m.

Nov. 6 Hacketstown, 7 p.m.

Head coach: Larry Dubiel, second year

Conference: Mid-State 39 - Raritan Division

Section: North 2, Group 3

Record: 1-1

Home: 1-1

Away: 0-0

Points for: 26

Points against: 37

Shutouts: 0

Overtime: 0-0  

SCOTCH PLAINS RAIDERS (1-1)

Sept. 12 (A) Scotch Plains 26, Cranford 24

Sept. 18 (A) Linden 35, Scotch Plains 0

Sept. 26 Warren Hills, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Immaculata, 7 p.m.

Oct. 10 Phillipsburg, 1 p.m.

Oct. 17 Westfield, 1 p.m.

Oct. 24 Summit, 1 p.m.

Oct. 31 at Rahway, 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 at North Hunterdon, 7 p.m.

Head coach: Steve Ciccotelli, 19th year

Conference: Mid-State 39 - Watchung Division

Section: North 2, Group 3

Record: 1-1

Home: 0-0

Away: 1-1

Points for: 26

Points against: 59

Shutouts: 0

Overtime: 0-0