Huge game has Hopatcong RBrolling toward state mark
JEFFERSON -- Hopatcong's Joe Martinek was the lone back in the Chiefs backfield, and Jefferson coach Joe Mattessich knew what was coming next. So did the entire Falcons defense, courtesy of Mattessich's loud warning from the sideline. It didn't matter. Martinek took the expected pitch along the right side, made a sharp cut into the secondary and was gone for a 77-yard second-quarter touchdown run.
It was one of several jaw-dropping runs turned in by Martinek, who finished with 31 carries for a school-record 396 yards as the Chiefs won their third straight in a 34-12 win. Martinek seemed to break as many tackles as he had yards rushing. "I cannot wait to see the film," Mattessich shrugged, "to see how many times we wrapped him up in the backfield." The Falcons may have wrapped Martinek, but they didn't bring him down and that led to their undoing. He also scored touchdown runs of 75, 35 and 15 yards. Martinek, who is now unofficially 312 yards away from Keyport's Kenny Cattouse's all-time New Jersey career rushing record, rushed for 174 yards in the first half as the Chiefs took a 13-6 lead into intermission. Hopatcong coach Paul Reduzzi wasn't entirely pleased and his O-Line suggested that it alter its blocking schemes. Reduzzi obliged and the Chiefs pulled away with a monster third quarter, scoring 21 points in the first five minutes alone. On the first play of the second half, Martinek exploded up the left sideline for a 75-yard touchdown, outracing one Jefferson defensive back along the way. On Jefferson's ensuing possession, Kyle Imroth intercepted a pass. On the very next play, Martinek went for 35 yards and a score. That's two plays, two rushing TDs in 38 seconds. Martinek's final TD came after he broke three tackles and sprinted across the goal line from 15 yards out five minutes into the third quarter. "We lined up in some different formations," two-way tackle Zach Rey explained. "We ran some more misdirection. Then we'd give it to Joe and he'd be gone." Reduzzi wants to bring the Chiefs offensive line to greater heights, so he offered his front wall a challenge this week: Get Martinek over 300 yards. "This line has never gotten him 300," Reduzzi said later. "We felt on film that we'd be able to run the ball. Our line has improved, but they haven't sprung Joe for 300. When we were 1-9 (three years ago, in Martinek's freshman year) we were able to get him a 300-yard game, but this group had never done that." The line accomplished its goal and now Martinek is on the clock toward the inevitable: Breaking Cattouse's record. "Last year, he got 2,500 yards," Rey said. "Our first goal, other than winning the game, is getting Joe the state record." Hopatcong hosts Sparta Friday night and Kittatinny on Oct. 13. As the yards continue to pile up, so does talk of Martinek breaking the record. "It's growing more and more," the humble Martinek said. "I kind of want to get it over with. With the next two games at home, I couldn't ask for more." "Two more weeks, dude, and it's happening," Rey said, smiling. Martinek's exploits overshadowed some of Hopatcong's bright spots over the last month. The Chiefs were swallowed up by Pope John on Opening Day, 31-0, but have made subtle progress. Quarterback Nick DelCorpo (3-of-4 passing for 28 yards, 6 for 23 rushing) is playing with more confidence. Fullback Carl Juskus (4 for 25 rushing, 1 TD) is complementing Martinek and blocking well. And the line is in better sync than it was against Pope John. But the team's calling card remains Martinek, who played his last game against Jefferson yesterday, "Thank God he's never coming back," Mattessich said, laughing. Jefferson, meanwhile, was led by John Kaschak (14 for 92 yards, 1 TD) and Buddy Miller, who returned a kickoff 80 yards for a third-quarter touchdown. Hopatcong 7 6 21 0 - 34 Jefferson 0 6 6 0 - 12 H- Carl Juskus 18 run (Kyle Imroth kick). H- Joe Martinek 77 run (kick failed). J- John Kaschak 37 run (pass failed). H- Martinek 75 run (Imroth kick). H- Martinek 35 run (Imroth kick). J- Buddy Miller 80 kickoff return (kick blocked). H- Martinek 15 run (Imroth kick). Records: Hopatcong 3-1, Jefferson 1-3.