HOPEWELL TWP. — Following five victories that were all more or less of the blow-out variety, the undefeated Hopewell Valley football team found itself in a position Friday night that it not yet experienced this year. Taking on a quality Seneca team that had won 10 games in each of the last two years while also reaching two sectional finals, Hopewell found itself in a dogfight that seemed very much up for grabs in the third quarter.
As it turned out, this was exactly what Hopewell Valley (6-0) needed to get ready for the playoffs because it responded to the challenge in dominating fashion to post a 35-12 victory over the Burlington County team. To set the stage, with Hopewell holding an eight-point lead after the first half, Seneca struck right away in the third quarter when quarterback Anthony Tirico hooked up with Jamar Warthen on a 66-yard scoring strike. This play started with a simple swing pass and after two missed tackles Warthen was off to the races down the left side to reduce the Hopewell lead to 14-12.
It appeared Seneca might have very well have the momentum at this point, but it quickly and dramatically proved to not be the case. On the very next play the game turned completely and permanently in Hopewell Valley’s favor as Justin Klotz exploded down the middle of the field and scored on an 82-yard kickoff return. Other than one mini drive in the second half, Seneca was pretty much never heard from again.
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