FULL SPEED AHEAD: Princeton High football player Matt Perello, center, races up the field last Friday night at Hightstown in the season opener. Senior receiver/defensive back Perello, who is also a star sprinter for the PHS track team, used his speed to provide a highlight for the Tigers, returning a kickoff for a touchdown in the first quarter during a 49-8 loss to the Rams. PHS hosts Pemberton on September 21. (Photo by Joseph Perello)

By Bill Alden

Matt Perello displayed flashes of brilliance for the Princeton High football team as a freshman in 2016, going long for a 40-yard touchdown reception against Pemberton in the season opener.

But sustaining a concussion that fall in a JV game, Perello opted not to play football after that and turned his attention to track, developing into a brilliant sprinter.

In the spring of 2018, Perello starred as the PHS boys’ track team placed first in the Mercer County championship meet, the Central Jersey Group 4 sectional, and the state Group 4 meet. He placed first in the 100 (11.07) and fourth in the 200 (22.60) at the county meet and took third in the 200 in the sectional meet and helped the 4×100 relay to victory, and then ended up third in the 200 at the group meet.

Despite his success in track, though, senior Perello decided that he wanted to give football one last shot.

“I love this sport and I wanted to come back and my parents are like why not; they didn’t want me to have any regrets left in high school,” said Perello.

“My track coach [Ben Samara] was a little hesitant but he said the same thing, he didn’t want to me regret not playing.”

As PHS opened its 2019 season at Hightstown last Friday night, Perello utilized his blazing speed to provide a highlight in a 49-8 loss for the Tigers.

Late in the first quarter, Perello took a Hightstown kickoff and broke loose down the sideline, sprinting 70 yards for a touchdown.

“A lane just opened up, I took it,” recalled Perello. “Some of the Hightstown guys were being cocky, one of the guys said hello and I juked him out and took it to the house. It feels great, the rush of getting by everybody and just having a clear field to cover.”

In reflecting on his return to football, Perello credited his track experience with preparing him well for this fall.

“We lift a lot during track so I have definitely been building up my muscle strength,” said Perello, a wide receiver/defensive back. “My speed has 100 percent contributed to football. My agility has increased, my mobility has increased. I am able to take hits now.”

Perello has focused on sharpening his defensive technique. “My form in tackling is a challenge, everybody suffers in that too,” said Perello.

“This is my third season playing tackle football overall and I am not a great tackler but I am definitely improving.”

In any event, Perello is relishing his final season of football. “It is probably the best choice I have made,” said Perello.

“It is one of my favorite sports, I watch it all the time. I love the guys, it is a great community.”

While PHS head coach Charlie Gallagher was happy to see Perello break free for his scoring jaunt, he acknowledged disappointment that the PHS offense did not break through as well.

“Matt is exciting, I wished we could have scored some more points,” said Gallagher.

“You don’t want to score just off a kickoff. You want some offensive production, we just didn’t have any. We haven’t gotten in synch yet, that is a struggle right now. I think the interior line did do a good job.”

Despite the lopsided defeat, the Tiger players didn’t hang their heads.

“I was just telling them the spirit is alive and well with PHS football,” said Gallagher.

“At halftime, there was a lot of conversation taking place about how do we get back into the football game. There was no one dejected, there was no one down. We were excited when we came out for the second half. That is important.”

Gallagher cited the leadership of his three senior captains, lineman Fred Otte, running back/defensive end Stephen Avis, and quarterback/defensive back Judd Petrone, with holding things together.

“Fred is a super committed player,” added Gallagher. “Avis is a baller, he leads by his play. Judd hangs in there, he is super unselfish. He is the kind of guy who says wherever you need to put me, I will go there. He wants to catch some footballs but if you need me to throw them, I will throw them too. He also wants to run.”

As PHS hosts Pemberton on September 21, Gallagher wants to see a continued commitment from his squad.

“I would like to think that we have the ballplayers to mix it up,” said Gallagher. “We just want to keep the games competitive. There are a couple of wins out there somewhere along the line.”

In Perello’s view, the Tigers have been getting more and more competitive week by week.

“I know we are a very novice team but you can easily see the growth from July to now,” said Perello. “We are definitely improving.”