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Hopkins Wins Thriller Over Hackley
This past Saturday, the Hopkins Hilltoppers travelled to Tarrytown, NY to face division opponent the Hackley Hornets in a game that would determine both teams’ playoff fates. Win, and you move onto the Conference Championship playoffs (seeds 1 and 2 from each division), and lose, you will compete in the Bowl Division series (seeds 3 and 4 from each division). The Hilltoppers wanted to erase last season’s Bowl Championship loss to Hackley from their memory, and came out with their game of the season when it mattered most. When the game hit 0:00 it would be Hopkins on top 33-29!
From the first series Hopkins knew they were in for a game, seeing Hackley bust a quick 65 yard touchdown from their senior running back (#2) to set the game 7-0 in the Hornets favor. Hopkins ensuing drive stalled, but to their credit they were able to force a fumble on Hackley’s second drive when Pearson Hill ripped the ball away from their quarterback at the Hornets 23 yard line. 2 completions later, Hopkins would tie the game on a 12 yard touchdown completion from Phil DeLise ’20 to Pearson Hill. The Hornets found the endzone again on their next possession as #2 broke a couple tackles on his way to a 59 yard touchdown to go ahead 14-7. The game of seesaw continued as Phil DeLise helped march Hopkins down the field with a series of passes before Pearson Hill would score his second touchdown of the day, this time on a 5 yard run around the left side. Hopkins trailed 14-13 after a missed extra point, but they would quickly take the lead after forcing Hackley to punt and then connecting on a 66 yard touchdown pass from DeLise to John Stanley ’21 to put Hopkins ahead 20-14. Late in the second quarter, Hackley marched down the field and then connected on a “Philly Special” touchdown pass from #3 to their quarterback to retake the lead 21-20 shortly before halftime.
Hopkins came out ready to respond in the second half, and marched the ball down the field on a series of runs from Hill and passes from DeLise. At Hackley’s 5 yard line, the two would connect once again for DeLise’s third passing touchdown and Hill’s third touchdown of the game to make it 26-21 (failed two-point conversion). Hackley wasn’t done yet, and put together an impressive 16 play 65 yard drive to take the lead 29-26 after a QB sneak and 2-point conversion. Hopkins offense failed to respond on their next series, but luckily the defense kept the difference at 3 points after forcing a Hackley punt. On their next series, the Hilltoppers offense completed a number of deep passes, maybe none bigger than the initial 34 yard completion from DeLise to Mike Lau ’20 to keep the momentum. At the 2 yard line, Pearson Hill juked Hackley’s defensive back to punch it in for his fourth touchdown of the game and another Hopkins lead at 33-29. With just over 4 minutes left on the clock, Hopkins would rely on its defense to get one more stop and seal the win. Hopkins got big plays in the form of a 6 yard tackle for loss from Brandon Smith, as well as a 2 yard tackle for loss from John Stanley jumping a WR screen. Facing 4th down, Hopkins applied pressure with Spencer Cipriano ’21 and Pearson Hill was able to undercut Hackley’s receiver to break up the pass. Hopkins was able to kneel out the clock and seal the game at 33-29. What a game!
To see highlights from the game, please click HERE
With the win, Hopkins became the Freedom Division Champions and #1 seed in the division. Riverdale is the #2 seed and will travel to face the #1 seed from the Liberty Division, Long Island Lutheran. This weekend will be a rematch with the Morristown Beard Crimson, and the game will be played under the lights Saturday, October 26th, at 6:00pm at the Orange Avenue Athletic Complex in Milford, CT. The address is 605 Orange Avenue, Milford CT. Hopkins will be eager to avenge their regular season loss to the Crimson. We hope to see our friends and fans at the game as we cheer on the Hilltoppers in this huge playoff matchup! Go Hop!!
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From the first series Hopkins knew they were in for a game, seeing Hackley bust a quick 65 yard touchdown from their senior running back (#2) to set the game 7-0 in the Hornets favor. Hopkins ensuing drive stalled, but to their credit they were able to force a fumble on Hackley’s second drive when Pearson Hill ripped the ball away from their quarterback at the Hornets 23 yard line. 2 completions later, Hopkins would tie the game on a 12 yard touchdown completion from Phil DeLise ’20 to Pearson Hill. The Hornets found the endzone again on their next possession as #2 broke a couple tackles on his way to a 59 yard touchdown to go ahead 14-7. The game of seesaw continued as Phil DeLise helped march Hopkins down the field with a series of passes before Pearson Hill would score his second touchdown of the day, this time on a 5 yard run around the left side. Hopkins trailed 14-13 after a missed extra point, but they would quickly take the lead after forcing Hackley to punt and then connecting on a 66 yard touchdown pass from DeLise to John Stanley ’21 to put Hopkins ahead 20-14. Late in the second quarter, Hackley marched down the field and then connected on a “Philly Special” touchdown pass from #3 to their quarterback to retake the lead 21-20 shortly before halftime.
Hopkins came out ready to respond in the second half, and marched the ball down the field on a series of runs from Hill and passes from DeLise. At Hackley’s 5 yard line, the two would connect once again for DeLise’s third passing touchdown and Hill’s third touchdown of the game to make it 26-21 (failed two-point conversion). Hackley wasn’t done yet, and put together an impressive 16 play 65 yard drive to take the lead 29-26 after a QB sneak and 2-point conversion. Hopkins offense failed to respond on their next series, but luckily the defense kept the difference at 3 points after forcing a Hackley punt. On their next series, the Hilltoppers offense completed a number of deep passes, maybe none bigger than the initial 34 yard completion from DeLise to Mike Lau ’20 to keep the momentum. At the 2 yard line, Pearson Hill juked Hackley’s defensive back to punch it in for his fourth touchdown of the game and another Hopkins lead at 33-29. With just over 4 minutes left on the clock, Hopkins would rely on its defense to get one more stop and seal the win. Hopkins got big plays in the form of a 6 yard tackle for loss from Brandon Smith, as well as a 2 yard tackle for loss from John Stanley jumping a WR screen. Facing 4th down, Hopkins applied pressure with Spencer Cipriano ’21 and Pearson Hill was able to undercut Hackley’s receiver to break up the pass. Hopkins was able to kneel out the clock and seal the game at 33-29. What a game!
To see highlights from the game, please click HERE
With the win, Hopkins became the Freedom Division Champions and #1 seed in the division. Riverdale is the #2 seed and will travel to face the #1 seed from the Liberty Division, Long Island Lutheran. This weekend will be a rematch with the Morristown Beard Crimson, and the game will be played under the lights Saturday, October 26th, at 6:00pm at the Orange Avenue Athletic Complex in Milford, CT. The address is 605 Orange Avenue, Milford CT. Hopkins will be eager to avenge their regular season loss to the Crimson. We hope to see our friends and fans at the game as we cheer on the Hilltoppers in this huge playoff matchup! Go Hop!!
Hopkins is a private middle school and high school for grades 7-12. Located on a campus overlooking New Haven, CT, the School takes pride in its intellectually curious students as well as its dedicated faculty and staff.
Hopkins School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.