Hayes' efforts lead Rebels to important win
Howell's playoff chances improve with upset of Jaguars
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

If there's such a thing as a utility player in football, it would be Howell's David Hayes.

The junior can play five different positions on offense, and Friday night coach Cory Davies needed that versatility for an assignment that most couldn't handle.

His job at Jackson Memorial was to be the team's blocking fullback, and that meant, more often that not, dealing with the Jaguars' outstanding linebacker, Dan Hopkins, who is 6 feet tall, 210 pounds. Hayes is all of 5 feet 7 inches tall, 150 pounds, and was replacing the injured Eric Feehan, who is 6 feet, 200 pounds, who would have seemed a better match for the Jaguar.

Hayes did not flinch at the assignment and was a big reason that Howell upended Jackson, 24-13, to keep itself in the thick of the state playoff hunt.

"He did a quality job blocking Hopkins," said Davies.

Hayes didn't just block Hopkins, giving his quarterback Sean O'Reilly time to throw, but also scored two touchdowns in the win.

"He's very quick," said Davies.

"No one on the team would have scored on his runs."

Hayes' first touchdown, a 4-yarder, capped a 96-yard drive that changed the course of Friday night's game.

Jackson (4-2) had opened the game scoring on its very first drive.

The second time the Jags had the ball, they drove the ball down the field again only to have Mr. Utility Hayes come up with the big play on defense. His interception on the Howell four-yard line halted the Jaguar drive. It was one of four pass interceptions for the opportunistic Rebel defense.

"We were able to get them in some second- and third-and-long situations," noted Davies.

Howell then drove the ball down the field behind the passing of O'Reilly and scored to cut the Jackson lead to 7-6. But more important, the drive gave the Rebels confidence.

Howell would take a 12-7 lead in the third quarter, before Jackson reclaimed the lead 13-12 before the quarter was over when Mark Schiavone (34 carries, 193 yards) scored on a 22-yard run. It was his second TD of the night.

A pass interception by Chris Turiello set up what was the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. O'Reilly's four-yard pass to Chance Carrick gave Howell an 18-13 lead.

Brian Battaglia then put the final exclamation mark on the win stepping in front of a screen pass and returning it 60 yards for the final score of the night.

O'Reilly was 14-for-25 for 178 yards and his one touchdown. Hayes only carried the ball three times, but picked up 24 yards and those two big touchdowns.

Howell, which had lost homecoming on Monday night to Toms River South, 31-14, evened its record at 3-3 and kept itself in the hunt for the postseason.

The Rebels travel to Brick (2-3) Friday night for a game that is critical for both teams' playoff chances.