By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
Here’s a sign of just how dominant the Hilton Cadets were on Friday evening in a season-opening 59-34 dismantling of visiting Fairport:
More than nine minutes remained and veteran Hilton coach Rich Lipani walked to the tables behind the bench, took off his headset and packed it away.
This was very much mission accomplished for the Cadets and their highly skilled offense.
They scored on every possession but their last, led 38-7 at halftime and broke the 50-point barrier before the third quarter had ended.
“Everybody contributed in some way, so it was a great way to start the season,” Lipani said after his 227th coaching victory, just three shy of the Section V record.
Senior running back/safety Tyler Reger scored two touchdowns – the first on defense, the second on offense – and kicked a 28-yard field goal, senior quarterback Matthew Kosiorek ran for one TD and threw for two and senior running back Kyle Taddeo ran for two TDs against the overmatched Red Raiders.
“I think this was a statement win,” Kosiorek said. “They like to talk a lot at the line so it was nice to talk with our pads.”
The Cadets began making a statement on the game’s first play. A mishandled pitch from junior quarterback Marco Provenzano fell onto the turf and Reger pounced on it, giving Hilton a first down at the Fairport 33.
“The first game, there’s nerves, but that definitely got everyone going,” Reger said.
Nine plays later, on third-and-goal from the one, Kosiorek followed his line into the end zone and Reger’s PAT kick gave the Cadets a 7-0 lead 7:10 into the game.
Fairport went three and out and punted on the ensuing possession. This time the Cadets offense needed just three plays to go 48 yards for a touchdown and 14-0 lead.
On second-and-six from the Fairport 27, Kosiorek three deep to the end zone and senior wideout Jared Wade curled behind the defender to make the catch for the touchdown.
“Fastest guy on the team,” Kosiorek said.
Indeed, the Red Raiders secondary couldn’t cover him. On the two other times Wade was targeted deep, a defender essentially tackled him to prevent a catch.
“Track star; he’s fast and twitchy,” Reger said.
Said Kosiorek: “That could have been three TDs. He had a step on them every time.”
Not that the Cadets really needed any more offense. They were piling up the points by dominating at the line and breaking tackles with regularity.
Fairport did counter after Hilton’s second TD as junior running back Joshua Ippolito capped a 72-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown run 57 seconds before the first quarter ended.
But Hilton’s offense needed just three plays to score again, this time when senior fullback Calvin Starwalk outran the defense for a 38-yard TD with 1:10 gone in the second quarter. He was hit at the line but bounced off, changed direction and said goodbye.
The lead then ballooned 28-7 just 63 seconds later. Another fumbled pitch left Provenzano scurrying to try to recover. Instead, the ball bounced directly into the hands of Reger, and he sprinted 52 yards untouched for a touchdown.
“I saw him stumbling and he struggling to pick it up and then he just hit it right to me,” Reger said.
Before the half ended, Kosiorek threw a 24-yard scoring strike to senior wideout Gianluca Auriuso and Reger’s field goal as time expired gave Hilton a 38-7 lead at the break.
When Reger sprinted around the right end and raced 30 yards for another touchdown on the first possession of the second half, the Cadets led 45-7 and were feeling good about their abilities.
But they promised much more lies ahead.
“That’s just the start,” Kosiorek said.
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