SPORTS

Ground attack sends Woodbridge football past J.F. Kennedy

Greg Tufaro
@GregTufaro

WOODBRIDGE – Quarterback Tracy Fudge set the offensive tone on the first two plays from scrimmage, running back Nate Lanier took over with two rushing touchdowns before the intermission and backfield mate Zahneer Shuler sealed the deal with a solid second-half performance.

The trio combined for 266 yards from scrimmage while leading the Woodbridge High School football team to an impressive 35-14 victory over J.F. Kennedy at Louis M. Bartha Stadium on Friday night.

Woodbridge (6-3) showed why it is the Greater Middlesex Conference’s most improved team, outgaining the Mustangs 314 to 270 in total yards from scrimmage while reversing last year’s 38-0 loss to their crosstown rival.

After opening the year with consecutive losses to Carteret and Bishop Ahr by a total of eight points, the Barrons have rebounded to win six of their last seven with the lone setback during that stretch to undefeated and reigning White Division champion Colonia.

Woodbridge actually opened last season with back-to-back victories before ending the once-promising season with an eight-game losing streak.

“This year we are more of a family,” Shuler said. “Last year we were together but we weren’t staying together throughout the season. We were losing and then we started separating. This year, if we are down, we stay together and make sure everybody is up.”

Woodbridge and J.F. Kennedy have already unofficially qualified for the NJSIAA playoffs with the Mustangs entering this weekend’s action with the fourth most power points in North 2 Group IV and the Barrons with the sixth most in the same section.

“We knew coming in that either way we are making the playoffs,” Lanier said. “We knew this was a really good playoff team.”

After J.F. Kennedy closed to 28-14 on quarterback Andrew Roberts’ 4-yard touchdown run with three seconds left in the third quarter, the Barrons answered with a 55-yard scoring march which Shuler capped with a flawlessly executed screen pass for a 26-yard touchdown on fourth down.

Shuler, who had just three carries in the opening half, one of which was a 5-yard touchdown run, had 11 rushing attempts after the intermission, lowering his shoulder time and again to finish with 49 hard-fought yards on the ground.

“Coach (Bill Nyers) was just stressing when I came back from injury (after missing the first two games) that we’ve got to make sure we close out the game and finish strong, so he trusts me to get the ball at the end of the game and to hold onto the ball and finish out the game strong,” Shuler said.

Fudge set the offensive tone, breaking off a 14-yard run and completing a 42-yard pass to Quassim Glover on the first two plays from scrimmage before Lanier scored on a 3-yard plunge just 1:32 into the contest.

“Execution was a big thing this week,” said Fudge, who completed 6 of 8 passes for 144 yards. “Our thing this week was just play hard, play together and be prepared. We were definitely prepared and we played together. That’s what got us out to the big lead.”

Lanier took a toss and raced around left end, virtually untouched once turning the corner along the left sideline for a 13-0 lead with 2:04 remaining in the first quarter. He finished with 50 yards on six carries.

After Shuler scored on a 5-yard run with 2:09 left in the second quarter, Lanier intercepted Roberts 24 seconds later from his linebacker position and returned the pick 15 yards for a back-breaking touchdown that gave the Barrons a 25-0 halftime lead.

J.F. Kennedy, which failed to convert two fourth downs in Woodbridge territory in the opening half and another fourth-down in the red zone midway through the fourth quarter, scored on the opening series of the second half.

Terence Young capped a 67-yard drive with a 29-yard touchdown run, taking a gutsy pitch from Roberts, who was absolutely leveled as he released the ball. Young’s run made the score 25-7 with 9:12 left in the third quarter.

Woodbridge immediately responded with Harry Rutkowski’s 32-yard field goal, making the score 28-7 with 4:56 left in the third quarter.

Linebacker Percy Martin and cornerback Tyler Smith stood out on defense for the Barrons, who received a sack from interior lineman Alex LaGrippo.

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Mustangs (6-3), whose three defeats have come when the offense mustered 14 or few points.

Roberts and Young finished with 96 and 73 yards from scrimmage, respectively, while teammate Sean Aston had 72 rushing yards.

Staff Writer Greg Tufaro: gtufaro@mycentraljersey.com