Piscataway rolls over Edison 31-6

EDISON – For a portion of the first quarter of Saturday's game between Piscataway and Edison, the Eagles were keeping the top-ranked Chiefs in check.

Until Zaire Ashley stepped up.

After an Elijah Barnwell touchdown to gave Piscataway a 7-0 lead, Ashley intercepted a Haaziq Daniels pass the following Edison possession and returned it deep into Eagles territory. Then Ashley took a handoff for seven yards for a score and the Chiefs went on to a 31-6 victory.

"I think that definitely was a game-changer, it helped get the defense pumped," Ashley said about his interception.

Piscataway's defense was once again tough to get past. The Chiefs shut out East Brunswick the opening week and last week held Monroe to just 14 points in a 24-14 win.

The Chiefs held Edison's offense to just eight yards in the first half and went into halftime with a 17-0 lead.

In the second half, Ashley made sure to not give Edison any breathing room. Piscataway quickly rushed down the field during the opening drive of the second half and Ashley finished it off with a four-yard touchdown run. Ashley only had five carries on offense, but was effective when he had the ball, finishing the game with 34 yards and two touchdowns.

"I'm an anywhere-on-the-field type of guy." said Ashley. "It can be on midfield or at the goal line."

Piscataway's offense got started in the second quarter when coach Dan Higgens switched quarterbacks, bringing in junior quarterback Kaamel Stewart for sophomore quarterback Danny Haus. Stewart capped the Chiefs' scoring for with a six-yard touchdown pass to Tyrell Bush, to make the score 31-0.

Stewart said, "They gave me a shot during the fourth drive and said if I took control of the offense, I was going to stay in."

Stewart went 5-of-7 through the air for 108 yards and a touchdown.

The Eagles got their only score on the final play of the game as Daniels threw a Hail Mary to Elijah Daniels for a 45-yard touchdown.

Andre Yates led the Eagles on the ground, gaining 53 yards/

Piscataway (3-0)… 0 17 14 0 — 31

Edison (0-3) …0 0 0 6 — 6

SCORING SUMMARY

P- Barnwell 26 run (kick good)

P- Ashley 7 run (kick good)

P- 21 yard field goal

P – Ashley 4 run (kick good)

P- Bush 6 pass (kick good)

E- Davila 45 pass

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - P:Barnwell 8-88, Pierson 11-82, Ashley 5-34, Stewart 2-39, Mason 3-24, Nassy 1-16 ; E: Yates 15-53, Asamoah 3-29, Daniels 6-20, Andrews 2-minus 4, Hopkins 3-minus 16

Passing - P: Fudge Stewart 5-7-108-1, Haus 1-5-1-0 ; E: Daniels 1-10-45-1.

Receiving - P: Pierson 2-27, Roberthson 1-17, Bush 1-4 3-46; E: Davila 1-45.