Hillside football throttles latest PAC-6 challenger Cardinal Gibbons

Like the Energizer Bunny, Hillside’s PAC-6 Conference win streak just keeps on going.

The Hornets welcomed new kids Cardinal Gibbons into the conference with a 41-8 win before a sellout homecoming crowd Friday night.

Hillside scored two touchdowns off Crusaders turnovers: a recovered fumble and an interception. The defense also sacked the quarterbacks twice.

Turning point

Down 35-8 with 3:04 left in the third quarter, Cardinal Gibbons went for it on 4th-and-goal at the Hillside 1. The Hornets held firm, then took the ball 99 yards on the ensuing drive to score and seal the game.

They said it

“We hear the whispers about the PAC-6. Someone is always going to come in and (try to) knock us off, but we keep on winning. No one gives us the respect we deserve,” Hillside coach Antonio King said.

Three who mattered

Abdul Adams, Hillside: Michigan State recruit Abdul Adams carried 20 times for 213 yards and two touchdowns, including 178 yards in the first half.

“We practiced really hard in practice this week, and the whole team was in a zone tonight,” Adams said.

Isiah Wright, Hillside: The defensive lineman intercepted Crusaders quarterback Wesley Wagner and returned it 31 yards to give the Hornets a 12-0 lead.

“Our defense has been spot-on the last couple of games,” King said. “To hold a good team to eight points says a lot about their play.”

Chauncey Caldwell, Hillside: Threw three TD passes – two to running back Jamal Currie-Elliot and one to N.C. State recruit DaeShawn Stephens.

By the numbers

1: Total number of yards rushing in first half for Crusaders.

178: First-half yards rushing by Adams.

36: First-half points by the two teams combined.

This story was originally published October 9, 2015 at 10:13 PM with the headline "Hillside football throttles latest PAC-6 challenger Cardinal Gibbons."