October 18, 2009
Huggins, Royster score 5 TDs in win
Sheldon Royster touched the ball just four times, but had 172 yards and two touchdowns.
Click Here for more photos from North Bergen at St. Peter's Prep.
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
JERSEY CITY – With a crowded backfield and just one football to go around, finding touches for Sheldon Royster has been a challenge at times for St. Peter’s Prep. Royster didn’t get many touches, but when he did, he took advantage of them as the Marauders cruised past North Bergen 49-16 at Caven Point.
“(It’s difficult) sometimes,” Royster said about getting into a groove. “When (Coach Rich Hansen) gives me my carries I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do.”
It didn’t take long for Royster to get in the flow and make his presence felt as he returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown.
Royster’s opening return ignited a blistering start for St. Peter’s Prep squad that was up by 16 within the first 4:16 of the game thanks to a safety by Dane Longa and a touchdown pass from Raphael Ortiz to Joe Vesey.
With the trio of Ortiz, RB Savon Huggins and WR Corey Davis, Royster didn’t see the ball again until late in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, Royster once again made the most of his chance. On a run to the right that appeared destined to go nowhere, he broke a tackle, reversed field towards the left sideline and went 65 yards for the score.
“I tried to get outside of the outside linebacker and then when I saw he was closing in on me,” Royster said I saw a cutback lane so I cut it back and took it to the house.”
The run made it 49-8 in favor of St. Peter’s Prep (4-1) and proved to be Royster’s last of the contest. He finished with 80 yards rushing on just three carries in the game.
“Sheldon’s going to get his touches and he’s going to have to make the most of them,” Hansen said. “We’ll have the chance to play both of them at the same time like with backs before. His time is coming.”
Royster’s two scores sandwiched another impressive performance by Huggins. He took an Ortiz screen pass 57 yards for a touchdown, breaking a pair of North Bergen (4-2) tackles on the play, the last one of the opening quarter.
In the second, Huggins added scores of 1 and 43 yards out to put the game well out of reach. In just one half of action, Huggins had 10 carries for 103 yards.
“I see (Savon) as more of a power back, sticking his foot into the ground and running people over,” Royster said. “I see myself more as a slasher. I’m starting to see it more and more as I progress.”
“They both do a lot of the same (things),” Ortiz said about the Huggins-Royster combination. “They’re both power runners and when they get outside I don’t think anyone can catch them. They set up the passing game perfectly.”
Ortiz completed all five his of throws on the day for 106 yards and two touchdowns.
Ortiz’s counterpart under center, the Bruins’ Peter Ramanand made some big plays later in the game. Victimized by some drops from his receivers, Ramanand completed 7-of-19 passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing with 63 yards.
Carlos Mateo averaged 34 yards per return on kickoffs. His 85-yard return in the second quarter set up Ramanand’s 11-yard scoring strike to Luis Obregon. Chris Adorno added a 44-yard touchdown reception in the fourth.
The Marauders, ranked sixth in the state, will host No. 2 ranked St. Joseph of Montvale on Friday night. The Bruins face another daunting task on Friday when they travel to face No. 5 ranked Wayne Hills.
LT Jake Kaufman (right) and St. Peter's Prep scored 23 points in the first quarter.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Bergen (4-2) | 0 |
8 |
0 |
8 |
16 |
| St. Peter's Prep (4-1) | 23 |
20 |
6 |
0 |
49 |
| SPP: Sheldon Royster, 92 kickoff return (Kevin Cosgrove kick) | |||||
| SPP: Safety | |||||
| SPP: Joe Vesey, 17 pass from Raphael Ortiz (Cosgrove kick) | |||||
| SPP: Savon Huggins, 57 pass from Ortiz (Cosgrove kick) | |||||
| SPP: Huggins, 1 run (pass failed) | |||||
| SPP: Tim Flannery, 8 run (Cosgrove kick) | |||||
| SPP: Huggins, 43 run (Cosgrove kick) | |||||
| NB: Luis Obregon, 11 pass from Peter Ramanand (Joshua Martinez pass from Ramanand) | |||||
| SPP: Royster, 65 run (kick failed) | |||||
| NB: Chris Adorno, 44 pass from Ramanand (Carlos Mateo pass from Ramanand) | |||||