Seton Hall Prep football team falls to Peddie in season opener

WEST ORANGE, NJ – The Seton Hall Prep varsity football team traveled to Hightstown to play Peddie at Maurice P.Shuman Field on Saturday, Sept. 10, in the season opener. The SHP Pirates lost in a very tough game, 21-14.

Peddie took the opening kickoff of the 2016 season and drove 70 yards in eight plays and scored with 9:10 left in the first quarter on a 5-yard scoring pass to make it 7-0. Later in the quarter, on fourth down, SHP senior linebacker Paul Theobald blocked a Peddie punt and SHP took over on the Peddie 17-yard line. On the first play, SHP senior running back Mike Mughetto ran around the left end down the sideline for a 17-yard TD. With the extra point by sophomore kicker Zach Hoban, the Pirates tied the score at 7-7 with :36 left in the first quarter.

SHP took the lead on the opening drive of the second half when they drove 61 yards in seven plays with senior running back Sean Ryan scoring on a 3-yard run. Hoban added the extra point to make it 14-7 with 9:15 left in the third quarter. Peddie tied the score at 14-14 with 4:00 left in the third quarter on a 63-yard scoring pass. After a Peddie interception, they drove 65 yards in seven plays and scored on a 5-yard run to take a 21-14 lead with 10:30 left in the game.

SHP game stats

Passing: sophomore quarterback Aidan Gilman: 10-of-17, 131 yards, four interceptions.

Rushing: Ryan: 17 carries for 60 yards, one TD. Mughetto: seven carries for 49 yards, one TD.

Receiving: junior receiver Andrew Perez: four receptions for  39 yards. Ryan: two receptions for  23 yards.

Defense: Theobald, 16 tackles (seven solo), one blocked punt. Senior LB John Lynch, nine tackles (six solo). Junior DE Johnathon Weir, seven tackles (four solo), one sack.

Next game: The Pirates will host Paramus Catholic on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 1 p.m. at West Orange High School.