SPORTS

Outstanding defense powers Metuchen past Asbury Park

Greg Tufaro
@GregTufaro

The Metuchen High School football team parlayed outstanding defense and a balanced offensive attack into an impressive 34-6 victory over Asbury Park on Friday night.

Quarterback Jake Lebovits completed 4 of 16 passes for 88 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Danny Briggs carried 21 times for 100 yards and a score.

Evan Collier, Devin Miller and Tyler Valovcin each had a touchdown reception for Metuchen, which improved to 2-0 following last weekend’s 9-0 blanking of defending Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division champion South River.

Lebowitz also rushed for 42 yards for the Bulldogs, who ran 52 plays to keep the pigskin away from Asbury Park’s offense.

Metuchen head coach Bob Ulmer, however, said his team’s stellar defense, led by end Devin Miller, who registered four tackles for a loss, was the difference in the game. The Bulldogs made two goal-line stands and Collier had an interception that his team was able to convert into a touchdown.

“From the beginning of the game until the end our defense was outstanding,” Ulmer said. “We went into halftime with an 8-0 lead with our defense saving our backs a little bit.

“Offensively, we finally figured them out by mid third-quarter. We started moving the ball pretty well and were able to get first downs. Our line stepped up and did an outstanding job.

“Once we were able to start running the ball a little bit, that opened up some passing routes.”