WEST MILFORD — Sophomore David Zeppetelli is the Highlander's football player of the week.
David participated in his first extended varsity action last Friday night. He led the team in rushing with 61 yards. On the second offensive play of the game, starting running back and last week’s player of the week Patrick VanDuyne went down with an elbow injury. David stepped into the position and performed well on the offensive side of the ball. The more varsity repetitions David takes the more he will continue to improve. David, as well as many other young sophomore players, are seeing varsity action and have steadily improved since the beginning of the season.
Despite David's exceptional effort, the Highlanders came up short last week, losing to Passaic Valley, 14-7.
The score was close throughout the game, however the Hornets came away with the win. Mistakes at key moments of the game hurt the Highlanders' chances of winning the game.
At the end of the first quarter, it was a scoreless tie; that continued into the second quarter. Passaic Valley got on the scoreboard with a late drive before the end of the half to make the score 7-0. Passaic Valley score their second touchdown after a long kick off return and a 25-yard pass in the third quarter.
Even down 14-0, the Highlanders showed toughness and pride by marching down the field after a long Wesley Pierce screen pass from Aaron Furnbach. Furnbach scored on a running play later in the drive to cut the Hornets lead in half, 14-7.
The Highlanders weren't able to make a fourth quarter comeback and fell to 0-2 on the season.
The Highlanders get right back in action this Friday night with a 7 p.m. start time at Old Tappan High School (1-1).