By Bill Alden

Jackson Barletta prides himself on being a multi-faceted threat for the Hun School football team.

“It is good to be all around the field and just impact the team however I can,” said senior star Barletta, who plays receiver, quarterback, and defensive back for the Raiders.

Last Saturday against visiting Blair Academy, Barletta made an impact in the first half with his arm and legs, throwing a touchdown pass to Nicholas DeGennaro and then catching a scoring strike from Logan Clouse as the Raiders built a 12-0 halftime lead.

Barletta, who transferred to Hun from New Providence High, enjoys getting a shot at throwing the ball as he is now in a rotation with junior quarterback Clouse.

“Here I have mainly been a receiver; in my old school, I played quarterback before I came here,” said the 6’3, 200-pound Barletta. “At heart, I am a quarterback but wherever the team needs me I will go.”

In the third quarter, Barletta showed those quarterback skills, lofting a ball down the sidelines to DeGennaro who turned it into an 80-yard touchdown play to stretch the Hun lead to 18-0.

“It was basically a fade and I saw that their safety was little too far inside,” recalled a smiling Barletta. “It was just spray and pray, that is what I call it, on that side.”

The Raiders proceeded to pull away to a 26-6 win in a game that was called with 9:45 left in the fourth quarter when an injury-depleted Blair squad threw in the towel.

“Blair is a great team with a great coach,” said Barletta, reflecting on the triumph which improved Hun to 3-1.

“They have great athletes but they got a little banged up and we just separated a bit. It was all good things for the Hun team today.”

Junior receiver DeGennaro did some very good things as he ended up with three touchdown catches on the day.

“He is an agile player and he runs great routes,” said Barletta. “When the ball goes to him, he is always going to catch it.”

With Barletta having committed to go to Fordham and play for its football program, he is looking to make the most of his final year at Hun.

“My brother played at Fordham, so I am continuing a tradition,” said Barletta.

“It is my fifth year of high school. I am playing lacrosse in the spring for Hun. It is anything to help anyone out, that is what you have to do.”

As one of the team captains for the Raiders along with Josh Henderson, Barletta is hoping to help lead the Raiders to a big fall.

“I feel like we are just coming more together as a team,” said Barletta of Hun, which plays at the Hill School (Pa.) on October 13. “We are buying into what our coaches have to tell us and teach us.”