The New Milford Knights varsity football team (3-1) rebounded from a difficult loss to Butler a week earlier with a commanding 54-6 Senior Day win over the Secaucus Patriots (0-3) at Monaghan Field at New Milford High School in New Milford, New Jersey.

New Milford senior running back Kobe St. Hilaire delivered a spectacular performance, rushing for three touchdowns and 85 yards while also returning an interception 85 yards for a pick-six.

“The whole week our coaches used that loss to add fuel to the fire, and we were hungry as a team and just wanted to go out there and get a win and do the best we can,” Kobe St. Hilaire explained.

The Knights offense burst out of the gate on its opening possession with a solid kickoff return by Daniel Biggar to the 40-yard line. Senior quarterback Max Kenny then completed a 28-yard pass to senior wide receiver Brady Gilchrist, moving the ball into Secaucus territory.

On first down at the Patriots' 32-yard line, Kobe St. Hilaire took the pitch from Max Kenny, darted through traffic, and sprinted into the end zone for the touchdown.

“The last two games our quarterback (Max Kenny) had an injury and didn’t play, and having him back and throwing an amazing pass on the first play of the game obviously opened up the running game.” “Having a quarterback able to throw and make the defense spread out matters a lot offensively and opens up the field and helps the linemen do what they need to do to open up more holes.”

Secaucus tried to answer on its ensuing possession. Still, New Milford sophomore linebacker Spencer Litali stripped the ball from the Patriots running back, and senior defensive lineman Marcos Lopez recovered it at the 25-yard line.

On second and goal at the seven-yard line, Kobe St. Hilaire took a handoff from Max Kenny and plowed straight ahead into the end zone for the score, extending the Knights' advantage with ten minutes left.

Secaucus regrouped on its second possession, including two pivotal fourth-down conversions that pushed the ball deep into New Milford territory.

On second down at the 20-yard line, an attempted pass went awry, and Kobe St. Hilaire stepped in front of the receiver for the interception before racing untouched down the left side for an 85-yard pick-six that made it 20-0 with less than five minutes remaining.

“That was a great moment, and one thing our coach (Bill Straub) said was not to let them (Secaucus) get too confident because once a team gets a lot of confidence, they start playing better than they could. Getting a stop there, taking away their momentum, and doing it in front of my family and friends meant a lot. I’m used to playing more offense than defense, so to make a big play meant a lot to me.”

The Patriots, looking to recover from a disappointing end to a decent drive, ran into more trouble after a completed pass led to another fumble. Knights’ junior linebacker Kyle Dunne recovered at the Secaucus 29-yard line.

“As much as me getting the stop and turnover it’s just the whole defense and everyone coming together and showing up and doing the best job they can,” Kyle Dunne noted.

New Milford wasted no time as Kobe St. Hilaire took the handoff from quarterback Max Kenny and dashed to the end zone for his third rushing score of the game.

The Knights' defense continued to dominate the line of scrimmage, forcing the Patriots into a quick three-and-out. A short punt gave New Milford outstanding field position at the Secaucus 42-yard line.

New Milford struck again as senior wide receiver Peter Psarianos took a handoff from quarterback Max Kenny on the jet sweep, made a couple of nifty moves, found an open seam, and scurried to the end zone for the score. The play widened the gap to 34-0 with a minute, and a half left in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Knights' smothering defense forced a punt. New Milford punt returner Brady Gilchrist then returned it all the way to the Secaucus 23-yard line.

The Knights' offense, again firing on all cylinders, struck quickly as Kyle Dunne took the handoff from quarterback Max Kenny and burst through the line and into the end zone for the touchdown, putting the lead at 41-0.

Things got worse for the Patriots on their next possession when an attempted handoff on a running play went terribly wrong, and the ball bounced backward. New Milford senior linebacker Daniel Maye recovered it and scampered into the end zone for the 10-yard score, making it 48-0.

Secaucus got on the scoreboard just before halftime on a one-yard touchdown plunge by quarterback John Hegarty, but the two-point conversion failed.

In the fourth quarter, with mostly backups in, Knights junior running back Xavier Doydora took a handoff from sophomore quarterback Jack Costello, turned the corner on the right side of the line, and glided into the end zone for a 10-yard score.

Jack Costello put a stamp on the dominating New Milford victory with a late-game interception.

Kobe St. Hilaire on the significance of the Senior Day win: “I’ve known these guys for almost 10 years, and we’re a natural friend group that makes us so connected.” “We’re a small school, not a regional school with people from other towns, and I think New Milford’s a mile and a half long. We’re such a special group compared to other years.”

“Coach Straub’s a great coach, and coming back to New Milford made that a smooth transition because the coaches accepted me right away.” “He didn’t put me right in at the running back position last year and I played on the scout team before my four-game suspension, and he supported me.”

“It was great to have my family and friends at the game and in the stands, and it meant a lot even though it’s not our final home game. Seeing all the decorations the moms and touchdown club put up, and seeing the Instagram reels, motivated the rest of the seniors.”

New Milford returns to the gridiron on September 25 with an away game at Mahwah, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. at Mahwah High School. Meanwhile, Secaucus hosts Hasbrouck Heights the same day, with kickoff also set for 7 p.m.