Northern Highlands Secures Convincing Win in Home Opener Against Hackensack

The Northern Highlands Highlanders (3-0) dominated their 2025 home opener, winning 36-7 against the Hackensack Comets (2-1) at Northern Highlands High School in Allendale, New Jersey.

The Highlanders wasted no time putting points on the board. A solid kickoff return by Jimmy Tarleton set them up with excellent starting field position at the Hackensack 40-yard line. They kept the ball on the ground for six consecutive plays, with a powerful offensive line creating ample room to run.

On first and goal at the two-yard line, running back Chase Calarco took the handoff and powered into the end zone for a touchdown with seven minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Northern Highlands' offense regained possession with less than four minutes left in the quarter and continued to dominate the line of scrimmage, running the ball four times in a row. The strategy then shifted as quarterback Jack O'Callaghan attempted a couple of passes. On fourth down at the Comets' 38-yard line, O'Callaghan took the snap and lofted a high-arcing pass to wide receiver Drew Vandersnow. Vandersnow made a remarkable juggling catch while falling backward, managing to cross the goal line for the score with just 34 seconds left in the quarter.

Early in the second quarter, the Highlanders were back in business when O'Callaghan completed a 33-yard pass to Calarco, advancing the ball into Hackensack territory. On second down at the 25-yard line, O'Callaghan threw a screen pass to running back Tucker Kanning, who sprinted down the left side of the field and into the end zone for a touchdown, extending Northern Highlands' lead to 21-0 with eight minutes remaining.

The ensuing Comets kickoff return turned disastrous as a large scrum of players led to a fumble, which Chase DeLuise recovered and returned for a touchdown, widening the margin to 28-0 just eleven seconds after the previous score.

Northern Highlands continued to excel late in the second quarter, effectively mixing their running and passing game. O'Callaghan completed a 28-yard pass to Zach Blacher, putting the Highlanders in the red zone. Running back RJ McCleary took over on back-to-back plays and finished grandly by barreling into the end zone for a four-yard touchdown.

Despite a bobble on the extra point attempt, Vandersnow regained possession, turned the corner to his right, and muscled his way into the end zone for a successful two-point conversion, extending the Highlanders' lead to 36-0 at halftime.

Northern Highlands nearly pitched a shutout, but Hackensack's running back Laron Young managed to power into the end zone for an eight-yard score.

The Highlanders will return to action on Saturday, September 20, facing off against Pascack Valley (2-1) at Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale, New Jersey, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Comets will play against Paterson Eastside (1-2) at Hackensack High School on Friday, September 19, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.