HISTORY 

  
In 1937, Highland Park High School fielded its first football squad.  The Owls got off to a slow start for
the school, compiling a record of 0-4-2.  1938 started much the same way for the Owl eleven.  The Owls remained winless until the seasons final game, upending Metuchen 6-0 and saving a season, ending the campaign with a 1-6-1 record.  At the time, few could forsee the rich tradition and history that was established in the tiny borough during those first campaigns.  With the framework of those teams, Highland Park Football  began to form and create a winning product - both on the gridiron and through comaraderie and loyalty, and created men who would become leaders off the field of play.

The Team first leader stayed with the program but for two short years.  Al Buschorn coached the upstart program against the likes of Scotch Plains, Keyport, North Arlington, Dunellen and Metuchen.  Though compiling only a 1-10-3 record, word spread throughout  town of the new team that would become the pride of the school.  Paul Hancock, took over the reins of the team in 1939 while pulling double duties as the school's athletic director.  Hancock, who coached the team through the 1942 campaign, lead the Owls to the Schools First Championship - capturing the Little Five Conference Championship following an impressive 6-1 season in 1942.  Hancock's teams compiled a combined record of 14-14-2 during his time on the sidelines.

1943 began the first of the long and very successful coaching campaigns at the School on North 5th Ave.  Bus Lepine took over as  Head coach in 1943 and lead the squad to an impressive 5-2 record that season.  The year culminated with a game for the ages, when Ickey Klaus kicked a game winning field goal with 16 seconds remaining on the clock to beat the Owls rival the Bulldogs  from Metuchen.  Bus continued to coach the Owls through the 1958 season, and left the sidelines with an 8-0-1 undefeated season.  This was Bus' second undefeated season, having finished the 1944 season 8-0.  All told during the fifteen year campaign, Bus coached teams compiled an overall record of 85-47-9, for an impressive .553 winning percentage.  Bus left such a mark on the town, the Little League Baseball and the High Schools field both bore his name.  

 In 1959, Jay Dakelman, an assistant coach since 1946, took over the sideline duties for the Owls. Dakelman's first campaign was an undefeated 9-0 season, lead by All-State quarterback, Joseph Policastro.  In the 19 seasons spanning from 1959 -1977, Dakelman lead Owls posted a combined winning record of 138-34-2 for an impressive .802 winning percentage.  Known as an innovator on offense, the Owls often used six or more offensive sets during a game, leaving opposing defenses guessing.   During his tenure, the team moved from playing its Home games at Johnson Park to the newly constructed field behind the school, which now appropriately bears his name.  Dakelman retired from coaching in 1977, but continued to work as the schools Athletic Director. Four Dakelman coached teams ended seasons undefeated.

The Joe Policastro era began with the 1978 campaign.  Policastro, a former All-State performer, came back first as assistant before taking over the sidelines that season.  The 1978, considered by many to be one of the schools best finished with a State Crown, for the rookie Head Coach.  Through the 2005 seasons the Owls have won or shared 22 State Crowns in both Group II and Group I.  The Goal Post Trophy the icon of Highland Park Sports has been a mainstay at the School, making its way to rival Metuchen only for brief stays.  The Owls  have had numerous players maintain All-State status, as well as All-County and All-Conference every year. Players have set both County and State records for scoring, and several players have played in both college and professional ranks.  In 2005 the team won the schools 400th game in its storied history.    

                                       Charles Bloom '63 / Keith W, Cook '91