(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: TRIGGER MAN: Hun School star quarterback Matthew Miller prepares to pass the ball last Saturday in Hun’s 31-7 win over visiting Blair. Miller connected on 6-of-14 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 17 yards in the win.

Miller Adjusting Well to Hun Football, Helps Trigger 31-7 Beating of Blair

Bill Alden

Matthew Miller had reason to be a bit nervous as he came to the Hun School football program this fall.

The post-graduate quarterback had to make adjustments on many levels. Miller wasn’t just coming to a new school, he was getting used to a new region as he moved to New Jersey from Charlotte, N.C.

On the field, Miller had to learn an unfamiliar offense in weeks in order to get Hun off on the right foot.

For Miller, the transition has gone smoothly from the outset. “The coaches have helped me out a lot,” said Miller, who heard about Hun through some relatives. “All the kids in the school have been great. The school really eases you into it. They are great here.”

It has been great for Hun to have Miller as his passing and running have helped the Raiders to a 5-0 start overall and 3-0 Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) play.

Last Saturday, Miller’s versatility was on full display as he connected on 6-of-14 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 17 yards to help Hun rout Blair 31-7.

In Miller’s view, Hun made a big statement with its win over previously undefeated Blair.

“This was a huge game for us,” said Miller. “Blair is a great team and we were preparing for a great team. We knew it was going to be a battle and it definitely was.”

A key factor helping Hun to win the battle was its offensive balance which saw it produce 287 yards rushing to go with Miller’s 129 yards in the air.

“It was good, we wanted to hit them from all sides,” said Miller.

“We have so many different weapons on this team. It helps to hit them from all angles so they don’t know what’s coming next. That’s what we want to keep up through the year.”

For Miller, being surrounded by skills players like backs Nick Williams and Kenny Howard together with ends Jory Johnson, Matthew Furstenberg, and Chikezie Ohayia helps make his job easier.

“We have such great receivers and great running backs,” asserted Miller.

“When I hand the ball off, I know they are going to get great gains. Then you can also play action off of that and the receivers will go and get the ball.”

Miller has also seen plenty of action on defense, performing well at safety for the Raiders.

“I love defense, I’ve been playing both ways my whole career,” said Miller, who is in the thick of the college football recruiting process and is looking at North Carolina and the Ivy League schools, among others. “Looking at college, I’m not sure if I’ll play offense or defense.”

Hun head coach Dave Dudeck is sure glad to have Miller in the fold this season.

“Matthew is a great quarterback, he’s a very mature kid who makes play after play,” said Dudeck.

“I’m so happy that he is on our team. I really wish the best for him as he goes through the season, he really deserves it.”

Hun is starting to get the best out of star senior running back Kenny Howard, who rushed for 146 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Blair.

“I think you’ll see Kenny continue to pick it up as the year goes on,” said Dudeck. “He knew it was on the line today and he put it on the line for us. He’s a stud that keeps on coming. He’ll give you everything he has.”

Dudeck felt that his players gave him everything they had across the board last Saturday as they built a 21-0 lead by halftime and cruised from there.

“This was huge,” asserted Dudeck, who hugged his assistant coaches one by one after the game.

“They have seven on the scoreboard with one long run. Our team has been built around defense the last several years. This year, we have a great mix of the run and pass and we are scoring more points. When we get up by two or three touchdowns, I know I can start running the ball. I know the defense is going to play tough.”

While Dudeck was in a celebratory mood, he knows his team will have to get back to the grindstone as it prepares for a clash at MAPL rival Peddie (3-2 overall, 2-0 MAPL) this Friday.

“I saw Peddie on film already and I know that Peddie is a good football team,” said Dudeck.

“They are going to be very, very excited to play us. My job as a coach is to prepare our team as best I can for a Friday game against Peddie. The true mark of a great team is to pump it up week in, week out.”

Miller, for his part, feels the team has a chance to be great. “We have to keep working hard every week,” said Miller. “Every week we are meshing better and better and starting to come closer as a team.”

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