GMC FOOTBALL: Week 1 Notebook and Top 10 rankings
The final score only told part of the story in the North Brunswick High School football team's 28-0 setback to Old Bridge on Friday night.
The Raiders may have lost the game, but they outgained the Knights 248-239 in total yards from scrimmage. They also ran 55 offensive plays, compared to Old Bridge's 32.
Quarterback Kevin Poindexter completed 12 of 16 passes for 133 yards, but he and the North Brunswick offense failed to capitalize on three red-zone opportunities. Meanwhile, Old Bridge scored on all three of its red-zone chances.
"I thought Kevin ran our offense very efficiently," North Brunswick coach Mark Zielinski said. "He did well all game long and gave us a two-dimensional threat from the quarterback position. We were very happy with what he did and are hoping to see more progress as the year goes along."
Zielinski said the Knights have added a new wrinkle to their offense, tinkering with the power read option they had been running for the past three years under coach Anthony Lanzafama so that the attack resembles that of predecessor Bob DeMarco, the legendary mentor who ran more of a true triple option.
Old Bridge operated a pistol option with new formations that relied more on motion than powering opponents with big bodies up front.
North Brunswick, which is trying to recapture some of its past glory while ringing in a new era, had two field dedications on campus before its football season opener.
Dignitaries participated in ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the new artificial playing surfaces at Steve Libro Field (football) and at Stan Williston Field (soccer).
Injury report
Sophomore running back/linebacker Elijah Barnwell, a MaxPreps.com preseason sophomore All-American, was sidelined with a nagging minor injury and held out of Piscataway's 48-0 season-opening win over East Brunswick merely as a precaution.
Bishop Ahr quarterback David Holder, who left the season opener against Colonia with a pinched nerve, is expected to return in time for a meeting with Woodbridge on Friday night.
Cramping impacted several teams on the opening weekend, most notably Carteret and starting tailback RaKeem Bennett, who was relegated to the sidelines for almost the entire second half.
In his absence, teammate Da'Avian Ellington scored the decisive touchdown on a 32-yard run early in the fourth quarter of the Ramblers' 14-7 win over Woodbridge.
Perth Amboy lost starting quarterback Albert Thomas and starting running back Larry Johnson to high ankle sprains during the first quarter of a 40-0 loss to Middletown North.
Zebras earning stripes
After rallying from a three-touchdown halftime deficit only to drop a 24-21 decision to J.F. Kennedy on a 33-yard field goal in the closing seconds, vastly improved New Brunswick was understandably deflated.
"The kids were real upset," said head coach Don Sofilkanich, a 21-year veteran in his first season with the Zebras and who has had tremendous success rebuilding programs at other urban high schools.
"It mattered to them. That's important. I said, 'Hey, listen. We are building young men here. Look at this as a learning experience. It's unfortunate that we came out on the short end of this. If you want to feel bad, feel bad for 24 hours. Then we've got to put this one behind us and move forward.' "
Junior running back Maurice Ffrench rushed for more than 100 yards and three touchdowns.
New Brunswick, however, failed to convert two red-zone opportunities. Meanwhile, they gave J.F. Kennedy a short field with which to work on one of its scoring drives and the Mustangs also returned a fumble 40 yards for another score.
"We had our opportunities," Sofilkanich said. "We just couldn't finish and you need to be able to do that."
At the half, Sofilkanich said he told his players, "We are going to turn it around and fight and crawl our way back into this."
New Brunswick has gone 2-37 since John Quinn, who rebuilt the Zebras into a state power, left to become Elizabeth's head coach.
Soflikanich, who won the first of three consecutive sectional championships at Asbury Park upon inheriting a 1-9 team, is attempting to work the same magic in the Hub City.
"Practice how you play"
Myles Hartsfield, who posted 257 yards of offense and five touchdowns in Sayreville's 42-7 victory over J.P. Stevens, said conditioning has been a focus for him this year as well as trying to lead by example.
"I'm definitely practicing harder this year," the Penn State commit said. "My dad taught me that you practice how you play."
Hartsfield had scoring runs of 51, 67, and 73 yards in the game.
Chukwuneke Part II
It might take some time, but the torch seems to have passed in the backfield for J.P. Stevens. The exchange didn't need to go too far for the Hawks.
With star running back Chewy Chukwuneke gone to graduation, J.P. Stevens is relying on his brother, Christopher, to carry the load on the ground this season.
Despite facing a relentless defensive front, the younger Chukwuneke had 36 yards on 12 carries in a loss to Sayreville on Friday night. The sophomore posted runs of 20 and 12 yards in the game.
Eagles clipped
Wide receiver Matt Lopez had two catches for 31 yards and free safety Nick Mangeriello recorded 10 tackles in Cardinal McCarrick's 36-0 loss to Sussex Tech on Saturday.
The Eagles fell to 0-2.
GMC TOP 10
(By Marcus Borden and Greg Tufaro)
1-Piscataway 1-0
2-Sayreville 1-0
3-South Brunswick 1-0
4-Old Bridge 1-0
5-Colonia 1-0
6-Monroe 1-0
7-South Plainfield 1-0
8-Carteret 1-0
9-J.F. Kennedy 1-0
10-Edison 0-1
WEEK 2 SCHEDULE
Friday, September 19
Edison at Old Bridge, 7 p.m.
North Brunswick at Sayreville, 7 p.m.
Piscataway at Monroe, 7 p.m.
South Brunswick at J.P. Stevens, 7 p.m.
Woodbridge at Bishop Ahr, 7 p.m.
J.F. Kennedy at Colonia, 7 p.m.
South Plainfield at New Brunswick, 7 p.m.
St. Joseph at Red Bank Catholic, 7p.m.
Metuchen at Asbury Park, 7 p.m.
Mater Dei at Dunellen, 7 p.m.
Spotswood at Shore, 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 20
Carteret at Long Branch, 1 p.m.
Highland Park at Keansburg, 1 p.m.
Point Pleasant Beach at Middlesex, 1 p.m.
Keyport at South River, 1 p.m.
Newark Collegiate Academy Charter at Cardinal McCarrick, 1 p.m.
WEEK 1 RESULTS
Monroe 35, Edison 14
Old Bridge 28, North Brunswick 0
Sayreville 42, J.P. Stevens 7
South Plainfield 36, St. Joseph 14
Colonia 35, Bishop Ahr 14
South Brunswick 36, Middletown South 24
Piscataway 48, East Brunswick 0
J.F. Kennedy 24, New Brunswick 21
Carteret 14, Woodbridge 7
Middlesex 27, Highland Park 12
Middletown North 40, Perth Amboy 0
Metuchen 9, South River 0
Spotswood 28, Dunellen 14
Sussex Tech 36, Cardinal McCarrick 0