BERGER KING: Hun School football player Dante Berger races into the end zone on a 96-yard touchdown reception last Friday as Hun hosted the Hewlett Sports Academy (Md.). Berger made three catches for 131 yards and that TD as the Raiders rolled to a 69-0 win over Hewlett. Hun, now 3-1, plays at St. Thomas More (Conn.) on September 19. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Justin Feil
Dante Berger came to the Hun School football team for the chance to showcase a diverse skill set that extended beyond running the ball.
The Raider senior gave a taste of those skills against Hewlett Sports Academy (Md.) on Friday.
The Raiders were backed up to their own 4-yard line when Hun quarterback Lukas Prock swung a screen pass out to Berger split out on the right side. Berger caught it, cut inside and made a little juke move, then burst away from the remaining defenders for a 96-yard touchdown reception that highlighted a 69-0 win.
“I just took a step back, came towards the ball and just found my lane, found some space, made a couple of moves and just started booking it,” said Berger. “That’s definitely my longest reception for sure.”
Berger’s touchdown was one of eight scores thrown by Prock. Prock ended up connecting on 23 for 39 passes for 507 yards on the day. Brandon Hollingsworth and Weston Kane had three sacks apiece and Jaden Erole and Cooper Briehler each had an interception apiece as the defense delivered a shutout to help Hun improve to 3-1.
“I was really proud of the way our guys came out and played with energy and physicality from the opening whistle,” said Hun head coach Todd Smith. “We challenged them to set the tone early, and they did exactly that.”
Berger was one of seven Hun players to catch a touchdown. Briehler had two touchdowns, and JD Teza, Tre Williams, Collin Walls, Tyler Locker and Gavin Toto all caught touchdowns. Colt Inman ran four times for 86 yards and Locker carried four times for 69 yards.
“The score is obviously impressive, but what I liked most was the way we executed,” said Smith. “We played fast, we played physical, and we stayed focused on doing our job every snap.”
Berger finished with three catches for 131 yards. Last year, the Andover, Mass., resident was more run-oriented while at Milton Academy. Coming to Hun allowed him some different opportunities while showing his versatility.
“I would just categorize myself as an offensive athlete,” said Berger. “And I just think wherever people want me is where I’m going to go. I think that I’m really good in space and I can catch the ball and I can do a lot of different things. So I don’t want to really limit myself, I think I have the ability to do a lot of different things.”
It’s a change from a year ago when he mostly was lined up in the backfield and exclusively ran the ball for Milton. He’s adjusted well to the different looks he’s getting with the Raiders.
“I’ll be in the backfield and have some carries, but then I’ll also be split out in the slot,” said Berger. “That touchdown, actually I was split out wide. And I’ve been running routes as well. I mean, last game I only had receptions, which is obviously different for me than last year, only being carries.”
Berger is just one of Hun’s stable of skill players. The Raiders boast Division I talent up and down the roster. It’s been up to each to find where and how they can help the team best while highlighting their abilities.
“This team has a lot of talent, but talent doesn’t mean anything if you don’t play together,” said Smith. “Tonight (Friday) was a great example of 11 guys doing their jobs and trusting the guy next to them.”
The Raiders’ well stocked roster has helped raise the level of each player. There is plenty of push from teammates to earn playing time and the chance to shine on game days.
“It’s been tremendous just to be able to compete,” said Berger.
“I believe that competition brings the best out of everyone so obviously every day we’re competing in practice, and it’s only brought the best out of all of us. I personally have loved the competition.”
Berger got to know his new teammates over the summer. He participated with Hun’s players in regular workouts all summer. It helped him adjust to his new team.
“I was down there the whole summer working out with the team,” said Berger. “The summer was great. I feel like I’ve never been a part of a team where obviously you spend the whole summer as strictly organized as Hun and I think definitely there’s a reason why we do it. I feel like I’m super close to my teammates and I feel like we’re really the definition of a team so I feel like it’s definitely paid off, and I thoroughly enjoyed it just working out with the guys, just football 24/7.”
One of the most important connections to foster was with Prock, the quarterback who has committed to defending national champion Indiana. The summer was a chance to start establishing chemistry with his new signal caller.
“It’s been really easy because he’s just so talented, he’s such a good football player,” said Berger. “It really hasn’t been an issue at all. He’s extremely talented and obviously we have so much talent on this team. You look at every spot, we have guys who are ranked and guys who are extremely talented. But just talking about it with Lukas, it’s been very easy to coordinate with him. He just puts the ball right where you need it so it’s been a very easy transition.”
The offseason work helped prepare Hun for another season with an international schedule. The Raiders opened the year with a win over a Canadian squad, Montreal Academy, before losing 31-24 to Skyridge High (Utah). They’ve since rebounded with back-to-back wins over Loudoun Sports Academy and Hewlett.
“We really didn’t play to the standard that we should have been playing to, and we came just that close, so it really was kind of proof to us that we really are that talented and really are that good,” said Berger. “When we meet the standard and we play to where we’re supposed to be playing, we can do some really, really good things.”
The schedule continues to send the Raiders on a sweeping tour for challenging opponents. They will play at St. Thomas More in Connecticut on Saturday before returning to New Jersey to play at Paramus Catholic the next week. Later in the season, they’ll play games in Texas and in Florida.
“It’s opportunity,” said Berger. “That’s why I came to Hun — for opportunity to showcase on the national circuit and be able to play against guys all over the country. So that was a huge factor of obviously me coming to Hun and I absolutely love it to be able to go out and play guys that I never would have played otherwise and be able to go compete against the best in the country. It’s just opportunity to show what you can do.”
Hun has been able to showcase so many strengths. They had big passing numbers, but their 155 rushing yards also shouldn’t be overlooked in their latest win. Prock gives them a key weapon that they can build around. Hun has tried to work in run and pass effectively with a defense that has only allowed more than one touchdown once this season.
“I think that’s the good thing about our team is that we’re so talented in the pass game but we also have so much talent in the backfield as well,” said Berger. “We’re really super multifaceted and we can do a lot of different things.”
Berger has proven that he’s the same way. He’s been adding big plays like Friday’s long catch and run touchdown to his highlight tape. His addition has helped him bolster his recruiting prospects while also lifting the Raiders against their broad range of opponents.
“We’re happy with the win, but we’re not going to get caught up in the score,” said Smith. “We have bigger goals in front of us, and the standard has to continue to rise every week.”