Hillbillies Head to Met Life

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It is about time that MetLife Stadium had an undefeated team playing in it; its usual tenants the Jets and Giants sure haven’t come close.  But the VHS Hillbillies take the field on Friday having not lost all season.

The Hillbillies have worked hard to get to this moment. They have practiced non-stop since the beginning of August. The team has practiced in the pouring rain, blistering heat, and even snow.  It has paid off.

The entire VHS Football program is undefeated this year. Every level has won every single game that they have played.  If the Hillbillies win tomorrow, the program would complete its first ever perfect season, an impressive feat for a school whose football history goes back to 1940.

The Hillbillies enter the game seeded  second in the playoffs and will be playing the number one team, Cresskill, who has a 9-2 record.  So how can Cresskill be ranked higher in the playoffs than Verona who is undefeated?

The answer: Power Points.

The ranking system is similar to the one used in college football and basketball. The ranking committee takes strength of schedule, record, and conference record into consideration. So at the end of the season, Cresskill was awarded more power points and got the number one seed and home field advantage for the entire playoffs.

Verona will take the field Friday night at 5 p.m. with the game time temperature forecast to be about 40 degrees.

For the current seniors, this MetLife Stadium run was four years in the making. And this is also the program’s best chance of winning this year. Not a single member of the Verona football program has been on the field at MetLife Stadium because the last time VHS played for a state championship, there was no MetLife Stadium.   That team played across the parking lot at the old Giants Stadium.

The team will be dismissed from classes Friday at 11 a.m. and then will have lunch with the cheerleaders. They will then begin prepping for the big game. The team has position meetings and then they will leave school at around 2 p.m. where the Verona Fire Department and parents will clap out the team. The Fifth Downers, the VHS Football Booster Club, has requested a police escort to either Route 3 or to MetLife.

On Tuesday, the entire team went to MetLife to receive a tour and walk on the field. Senior defensive captain, Mike “Cif” Cifaretto said, “It was truly amazing…and it was an experience I will not forget.”

Defensive coordinator and VHS Business Education teacher Mitch Roshong said, “Reaching the state final is a huge accomplishment for the players and a moment that every member of this team will always remember.”

So with the game less than 48 hours away, the Hillbillies are still working hard. The season does not stop until the clock hits all zeros Friday night. But no matter what happens Friday night, the Hillbillies have accomplished all the goals that set forth at the beginning the year.  “It is very rewarding to see all of our guys push themselves to achieve so much success,” Mr. Roshong said.

The game will be televised on FiOS 1 and NJ.com will be giving live Twitter updates using the hashtag #cresvsver .  The Fairviewer will provide live updates as well @vhsFairviewer.

The Fairviewer projects that the VHS Hillbillies will finish their perfect season and hoist the state championship trophy high over their heads after the game.

Final score?  VHS-26 Cresskill-6