Piscataway rushes for 312 yards in 31-6 win over Edison

Piscataway High School assistant football coach John Thompson filed this outstanding dispatch from the Chiefs' 31-6 win over Edison on Saturday. Coach Thompson maintains the Piscataway football program's official school record book and is a regular contributor to MyCentralJersey.com's weekly gridiron notebook and game coverage. We greatly appreciate his volunteer efforts.

Piscataway overcame 12 penalties and 90 degree temperatures to earn a hard-fought, 31-6, victory over the Edison Eagles in Edison. A cloudless sky and relentless sun brought on cramps in too many Piscataway players to count, but the Chiefs depth paid off as 10 different running backs carried the ball for 312 yards. Kamaal Stewart came off the bench to hit five out of seven passes, as six different Chief receivers caught a pass.

Both teams played solid defense in the scoreless first quarter, which saw Edison held to four total yards and Piscataway just 14. Edison gained the first first down of the first half this season against the Chiefs defense, as a muffed punt resulted in an Eagles recovery on the Edison 42. (Asamoah (Edison kicker) boomed 8 punts on the afternoon for a 36.9 average, many of which were high in the soft blue sky and lost by Chief return men as they battled the ever-present sun.) The Chiefs defense held, however and the quarter ended, 0-0.

The Chiefs offense finally broke through late in the second quarter. Facing a 3rd and 7 from their own 26, Kamaal Stewart hit Elorm Lumor on a play-action pass up the hash and Lumor rambled 48 yards to the Edison 26 before being hauled down. On the next play, Elijah Barnwell ran off the left side behind Charles Mitchell and Jared Lemon and the Chiefs were on the board with 4:17 to go in the half. Two plays later, Zaire Ashley returned an interception 24 yards to the Edison 11 and Chiefs were in business once again. Ashley took it in from the 9 three plays later and following Ryan Kuchnicki's extra point, it was 14-0 with 2:58 to go. The Chiefs held Edison on the ensuing drive and used two timeouts to get the ball back. Asamoah nailed a 57-yard punt, however to the Chief 13 yard line. On first down, Piscataway was penalized for offsides. A Stewart 16-yd run advanced the ball to the Piscataway 24, but two more Chief penalties took it back to the 12, where it was 1st and 22. Elijah Pierson broke through on a 38-yd run, however, and the Chiefs were near midfield with a minute to go. An incomplete pass and yet another penalty set them back to their own 37 before Ashley rolled right for 8 on a toss and Tyrell Bush scooted 32 yards on a nicely-run reverse, giving the Chiefs a first and ten at the Edison 23. Stewart hit Sellis Roberthson for 18 yards to the Edison 5 and Ryan Kuchnicki came in to hit a 22-yd FG on the final play of the half, giving Piscataway a 17-0 lead.

The second half was dominated by two long Chief scoring drives. The first, to open the half, covered 9 plays and 59 yards and took 3:43, as Barnwell, Pierson and Eti-ini Udott pounded the ball to the Edison 6, where Ashley broke through for the touchdown. The second, which came after Edison gained one first down, bridged the third and fourth quarter and went 11 plays and 84 yards, ending with an 8-yd pass from Stewart to Bush on a 4th and 5. Edison scored on the final play of the game as Daniels hit Davilla on a 39-yard pass up the left side.

Piscataway now leads the series, 23-12-1. The Chiefs have a bye week and play J.P. Stevens on October 10.

Rushing: Barnwell (9-94), Pierson (10-73), Stewart (2-26), Bush (1-32), Ashley (4-26), Haus (2-1), Yeboah (3-16), Roberthson (1-11), Mason (3-20)

Passing: Stewart (5-7-108-1TD-0 INT), Haus (1-4 - (2) - 0 TD-0 INT

Receiving: Lumor (1-48), Eley (1-28), Roberthson (1-18), Yeboah (1-6), Bush (1-8-1TD), Pierson (1-(2))

Defensive Stat: Lumor 3 Sacks - 10 yds lost (including one on a sweep pass)