HOPATCONG -- Joe Martinek admitted to having at least a few butterflies in his stomach before his record-setting evening was about to begin. But that all changed the first time he touched the ball. Energized and relieved by his 64-yard touchdown run down the left sideline on Hopatcong's first play from scrimmage, the Chiefs' star running back was well on his way to setting the new state career rushing record, a mark he re-established just two minutes into the second quarter in an eventual 28-7 victory over Kittatinny. "I was a little nervous before the game, but once I had that first run and was able to find the corner and head to the end zone, I felt a lot more relaxed," said the Rutgers-bound senior, who finished the night with 23 carries for 221 yards and three touchdowns.
Then, as the second quarter had barely begun, and needing just more two yards to eclipse Keyport's Kenny Cattouse's standard of 6,720 set in 2003, Martinek put an exclamation point on his record-setting run as he took off on a 28-yard burst around the right side, which brought the ball down to the Kittatinny 14 with 10:00 left in the second quarter. The game was temporarily halted as family and coaches came out on the field to hug the history-making Chiefs' star and many in the crowd in excess of 2,500 gave their hometown hero a standing ovation. "Joey is just a special player and even more, a special young man," said Hopatcong Coach Paul Reduzzi. "The entire team was revved up before the game, maybe a little too much because we knew this was also a very important game in our league and as we continue to try and jockey for position for the playoff seedings. "But Joey took all the pressure off with that first touch of the game and the entire evening couldn't have been more special." Hopatcong (5-1) has now won five in a row since a season-opening loss to Pope John and continues to climb closer to the top in terms of power points In North 1, Group 2, a playoff section the Chiefs won last year. Kittatinny, which was coming off a big win over Newton last week, fell to 4-2. While Hopatcong was picking up a slew of power points, the evening as a whole belonged to No. 14. "This is a tribute to all the hard work Joe has put in," said Reduzzi. "We were 1-9 and 5-5 his first two years before winning a state championship (with an 11-1 record) last year and now all the time and effort have come to a crescendo and he's accomplished everything playing with his friends and the guys he grew up with, which makes it extra special." Martinek and Hopatcong took a 14-0 first-quarter lead following up the electrifying 64-yard burst to get things started with a 10-play, 56-yard drive that culminated with a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Nick DelCorpo with 5:20 left in the first. Martinek, who also had a quarterback sack on the night, then caused a Kittatinny fumble with a good tackle of QB Anthony Cerbo as the Chiefs recovered at the Kittatinny 41. On the second play, he took off on his record-setting 28-yard run, which ended with a face-mask penalty assessed against Kittatinny on the play that brought the ball to the seven-yard line. Two plays later, Martinek bolted into the end zone from three yards out to make it 21-0 with 8:40 still showing in the second quarter. Kittatinny scored its only TD with 1:18 remaining in the half on a 30-yard pass from Cerbo to Kyle Hayes, finishing a quick, 5-play, 73-yard advance. Hopatcong controlled the ball and the clock with its ground game in the third quarter and Martinek scored his third TD of the night on a 2-yard run to finish a 9-play, 46-yard drive with 4:41 left in the third. Martinek was lifted from the game with 3:00 left in the third as Reduzzi used his second-team backfield the rest of the way. "This record was for everyone: my friends, my family, my coaches and even the people who have criticized me and kept me level-headed and made me work even harder," said the modest-sounding Martinek. "I almost can't put into words how great it is to set this record before our home crowd with a great Friday night atmosphere, but, most importantly, in a huge victory over a good Kittatinny team that helps us keep moving ahead both in the SCIL and in our pursuit of a playoff berth. "More than any individual records that might come along, I want to help Hopatcong win another state championship before I'm through. That will make me most happy in capping my career here." Hopatcong 28, Kittatinny 7 KIttatinny 0 7 0 0 - 7 Hopatcong 14 7 7 0 - 28 H- Joe Martinek 64 run (Kyle Imroth kick). H- Nick DelCorpo 1 run (Imroth kick). H- Martinek 3 run (Imroth kick). K- Kyle Hayes 30 pass from Anthony Cerbo (Homer Wanamaker kick). H- Martinek 2 run (Imroth kick). Records: Hopatcong 5-1, Kittatinny 4-2.