An open letter to Jim Hague: Although I’ve known you to be knowledgeable, professional and fair, I seriously disagree with and question one of your biggest and most controversial decisions and the criteria you based it on; to put St. Joe’s Regional HS (SJR) #1 on your final ballot for the Star Ledger Top 20 Trophy. In an interview on Channel 12 a few days before the championship game, when asked your opinion on a controversy for the top spot you stated that there wouldn’t be a controversy if #3 SJR beat #1 Delbarton, because #2 Hoboken would lose to Wayne Hills and SJR would automatically assume the #1 spot. Upon being questioned in the case of a Hoboken win, you said with a win over Delbarton, SJR would still be #1 because they “manhandled” Hoboken in a scrimmage. Jim, come on, you’ve been around long enough, you should know better than that. To base your decision for the #1 team in the state on the results of a scrimmage is ridiculous and to admit it is even worse. Also, with some research on your part you would’ve discovered that: Hoboken’s offensive line had three first-time starters, two of whom would switch positions during the course of the year. Sophomores Yovani Sosa (halfback) and Juan Valdez, one of your all-area defensive lineman (all 5’7″ and 155 lbs. of him), weren’t in the starting lineup. Most importantly, the Gatorade NJ Player of the Year, Tyrell Dortch, was at halfback, not his natural fullback position and Carlos Perez, an all-state player and a Division One recruit, was at fullback, not his natural wide receiver position. It was the first scrimmage of the season and that’s the time to try things and see what works. It is not the time to decide the #1 team in the state. However, if that’s your way of thinking, how about when Hoboken went to previous #1 Delbarton and manhandled them? Dortch was at fullback, Perez at wide receiver, Sosa at halfback and the Big Red Machine was rolling once again. The defense also began to come together as they held Delbarton’s explosive offense, led by All-State running back Jermaine Pugh, to one score and less than 150 yards of total offense. Let’s go back to the interview on Channel 12. Jim, you said Wayne Hills (WH) was a much better team this year than they were in ’98, Hoboken wasn’t as good as they were in ’98, and that Hoboken was fortunate to escape with a win in ’98 because of two turnovers. WH, previously undefeated, was good, but Hoboken was great and it showed back on Saturday night, December 4 in prime time at Giants Stadium. The final score, 27-7, only begins to tell the story of the domination Hoboken displayed. 400+ yards of total offense and a defense that had seven sacks and two interceptions. When you consider Hoboken had a touchdown called back and missed three extra points, you see the margin of victory could’ve been even more. I guess Hoboken was fortunate to escape with this victory, too, right, Jim? However, proving you wrong and doing it in such a convincing fashion wasn’t enough. I guess you thought SJR beating Delbarton 24-22 was more impressive. But think about it, Jim, SJR “manhandled” Hoboken and, I already told you, Hoboken manhandled Delbarton so shouldn’t SJR have completely destroyed Delbarton? That’s the way you think isn’t it, Jim? Five state titles in six years, 62 out of 63, and 70 out of 72. But I guess the football players of Hoboken didn’t do enough to earn your vote, Jim. It’s a shame because everyone else around here knew they deserved it. Even Ed Ford. James Monaco, Jr.