Kobe St. Hilaire's Four Touchdowns Propel New Milford Past St. Mary Rutherford

The New Milford Knights (5-3) showcased an impressive offensive performance led by junior running back Kobe St. Hilaire, who recorded four rushing touchdowns and gained 251 rushing yards in a 35-7 victory over the St. Mary (Rutherford) Gaels (3-5) at New Milford High School in New Milford, New Jersey.

New Milford started with the ball in St. Mary's territory, at the 48-yard line, with eight minutes left in the first quarter. They moved swiftly down the field, gaining ground primarily through their running game. Kobe St. Hilaire capped off the drive by taking the handoff and powering into the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown with four and a half minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, St. Hilaire provided a highlight moment by taking the handoff, weaving through defenders, and sprinting down the left side of the field for a spectacular 64-yard touchdown, extending New Milford’s lead to 14-0.

St. Mary Rutherford had an opportunity to score late in the second quarter as they advanced deep into the Knights' territory. However, New Milford's defense stepped up, with linebacker Daniel Maye sacking quarterback Evan Colon on fourth down, thwarting the Gaels' chances.

After receiving the kickoff to start the second half, St. Mary began their drive at their own 38-yard line. Their offense effectively mixed running and passing plays, successfully converting a fourth down.

At first and goal on the New Milford two-yard line, quarterback Evan Colon threw a pass to the left side, where wide receiver Thomas Messina expertly kept his feet in bounds as the ball crossed the goal line, scoring a touchdown with less than eight minutes remaining in the third quarter.

On the Knights' next offensive possession, they continued to rely heavily on their ground game, with Kobe St. Hilaire carrying the ball most of the time. The offensive line dominated, creating large gaps for St. Hilaire to exploit.

New Milford converted a crucial fourth down at the Gaels' 31-yard line, allowing them to keep the drive alive. Just six seconds into the fourth quarter, St. Hilaire took another handoff, burst through a wide-open hole, and rushed for a 21-yard touchdown.

New Milford's defense played a significant role as well, with Jeremy Friedberg recording a sack on St. Mary's next drive and Spencer Litali making an interception, returning the ball to the Gaels' 18-yard line.

The Knights needed just one play to score again, as St. Hilaire displayed his incredible speed. After taking a handoff, he dashed into the clear and, despite taking a hard hit at the one-yard line, somersaulted into the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown, increasing the lead to 28-7 with seven minutes left in the game.

To solidify the dominating victory, New Milford defensive back Luke Johnson intercepted a pass after the St. Mary receiver bobbled the catch. Johnson quickly accelerated to the end zone for a 43-yard score.

The Knights will wrap up the regular season on Friday, October 24th, facing Waldwick (5-3) at Waldwick High School with kickoff set for 7 p.m. Meanwhile, St. Mary Rutherford hosts Garfield (4-4) on Saturday, October 25th, at St. Mary Rutherford High School, with kickoff at 1 p.m.