GMC FOOTBALL: Week 3 notebook and Top 10 rankings
The Carteret High School football program has been one of the Greater Middlesex Conference's most consistent over the last decade, due in large part to the play of its defense.
The Ramblers (2-1) will face their most stern test this season when they travel to undefeated Colonia (3-0) with first place in the White Division at stake.
Carteret is coming off a 26-2 victory over New Brunswick, an opponent against which the Ramblers made three critical red-zone stops and forced two turnovers. Hassan Williams led the defense with a fumble recovery and an interception.
The Ramblers have not allowed an offensive touchdown in two games this season.
"I think we are a defense first football team," Carteret head coach Matt Yascko said. "I think we have been since I've been here. Even the 12-0 season (in 2012) when we were scoring 40 points per game earlier in the season, when you look back at the playoffs, those games were low scoring."
Yascko credits defensive coordinator Keith Kapinos, line coach Dan Farrar and linebackers coach Justin Nuniz with making adjustments and putting his charges in position to make plays.
For the last five years, Carteret has practiced in full pads every day during game week, forgoing half pads traditionally reserved for walk-throughs.
"If we are going to be a physical football team," Yascko said, "we felt we should be physical every day."
Senior safety Brandon Gilder, a four-year starter, anchors a skilled secondary that features Williams and Michael Nowak, arguably the team's fastest player.
Rakeem Bennett, who doubles as a tailback, epitomizes Carteret's linebackers, who are fast and athletic.
Sam Kamara, who Yascko believes is a major Division I prospect, anchors a deep line (the Ramblers rotated eight players up front against New Brunswick).
"We value our defense," Yascko said. "It's (reflective) of the players we have at Carteret. We play with an aggressive style. We like to hit and run around."
Bombers look to bounce back
Sayreville head coach George Najjar said his team's 64-28 loss to Manalapan on Saturday night was not as lopsided as the final score might suggest.
The Bombers trailed 35-28 in the third quarter when they were forced to punt after being stuffed on a third-and-short.
Prior to the defensive stop, Sayreville had scored a touchdown, made a defensive stop of its own and blocked a field goal.
Any momentum the Bombers built, however, quickly evaporated when Manalapan took a 42-28 lead, intercepted a pass on the ensuing series and converted that turnover into yet another touchdown.
"At that point, the game was pretty much over," Najjar said. "The game was closer than the score indicated, but that's certainly not any rationalization for the game. It unraveled for us. It's just one of those games that got out of hand."
Manalapan, which defeated Sayreville in last year's Central Group V semifinals, set a single-season school record for points scored. The Braves had previously recorded 55 points on multiple occasions.
"We are hoping it's a learning experience," Najjar said. "We have a lot of young, inexperienced players. We're hoping they understand what level you have to play at to be able to compete against Manalapan and these other playoff teams."
Penn State commit Myles Hartsfield, who caught five passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns, was limited to 20 rushing yards on 11 carries (the senior had rushed for 396 yards and eight touchdowns in two previous games).
Najjar said the combination of Manalapan racing out to an early lead and its skill up front dictated Sayreville's offensive strategy for the game.
"We were always climbing uphill and they did a lot to take away the running game," Najjar said. "We had some success with the pass and that's the way we went. They had too much up front and really dominated the line of scrimmage."
Dunellen Destroyers
After enduring a 28-14 season-opening loss to Spotswood, a game in which it lost two fumbles and put the ball on the ground two other times, Dunellen has managed to hold onto the pigskin, rolling up 921 rushing yards in its last two games.
Dunellen has averaged 48 points in victories over Metuchen (46-22) and Mater Dei (50-38) with separate rushers (Nassan Anderson against the Bulldogs and Rob Young against the Seraphs) amassing 200-plus yards on the ground.
"I didn't think we were going to be able to run the ball on Metuchen like that," Dunellen head coach Dave DeNapoli said, noting the Bulldogs entered Saturday's contest having allowed just one touchdown in wins over Asbury Park and South River.
"We were very surprised at the success we had."
The Destroyers, who have punted just once this season, rolled up 250 rushing yards against Spotswood, a team against which it averaged eight yards per carry.
Dunellen will receive a stern test this weekend against Shore Regional, a team that returned eight defensive starters and blanked Spotswood 10-0 earlier this season.
Hawks' offense flying
After showing signs of life offensively in its first two games, J.P. Stevens amassed more than 400 yards of offense in Saturday's heartbreaking 28-27 loss to Monroe. The Falcons partially blocked a PAT with under two minutes remaining to preserve the victory.
Sophomore Luke Jacobi (6 of 8 for 73 yards with a rushing touchdown) and junior Jay'von Blacknall (6 of 8 for 70 yards with a touchdown passing) split time at quarterback.
Chris Chukwuneke rushed 20 times for 102 yards and caught eight passes for 105 yards, while teammate DeAndre Perkins had 10 carries for 152 yards. The duo combined to score three touchdowns.
Old Bridge loses star
Old Bridge senior Myles Williams, a two-way starter and return specialist, broke a bone in his lower right leg upon being tackled inches from the end zone after catching a double pass from wideout Tyler Hopman in Saturday's 34-14 loss to South Brunswick.
Williams caught the ball in open space around the 20-yard line across the middle of the field and made a diagonal run toward the right pylon. Defensive backs Marcus Jackson and Phil Campbell were able to track him down, teaming up for a clean touchdown-saving tackle.
A preseason All-Area selection as a punt returner, Williams is likely lost for the season, according to Old Bridge head coach Anthony Lanzafama.
Chief defense
End Elorm Lumor, who has committed to Temple University, led Piscataway to a 31-6 victory over Edison on Saturday. He recorded three sacks.
Edison and Piscataway combined for just 18 first-quarter yards from scrimmage. Until Saturday, Piscataway's defense had not allowed a first down in the opening half of a game this season.
Edison was limited to 99 yards from scrimmage on the day.
Gilder reaches milestone
With 100 receiving yards on Friday night, Carteret's Brandon Gilder has caught 61 passes for 1,045 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Poindexter near perfect
North Brunswick quarterback Kevin Poindexter has been near perfect, completing 30 of 39 passes for 384 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions this season.
TOP 10
1. Piscataway 3-0
2. South Brunswick 3-0
3. Sayreville 2-1
4. Old Bridge 2-1
5. Colonia 3-0
6. Monroe 2-1
7. Carteret 2-1
8. J.F. Kennedy 2-1
9. Bishop Ahr 2-1
10. Middlesex 3-0