SPORTS

GMC Football Game of the Week: Piscataway at Monroe

Greg Tufaro
@GregTufaro

Quarterback Stephen Karoly, who broke his left (non-throwing) wrist a week before the Monroe High School football team endured a lopsided loss to Piscataway last season, will get a chance to see how much of a difference-maker he can be.

"I think he is a poised and athletic quarterback that has a very good senses of awareness of the game," Piscataway head coach Dan Higgins said.

"The hidden danger in the quarterback with him is the fact that if you pressure him, he has great scrambling ability and will make plays, so he's a dual threat. You can do a great job (defending) and it can turn into a big play for them because of his decision-making and athleticism, so we expect that to be a huge challenge for us."

Karoly, who completed his first 12 passes and finished 14 of 18 passing for 240 yards in last weekend's 35-14 victory over Edison, leads the sixth-ranked Falcons (1-0) against the top-ranked Chiefs (1-0) in the Home News Tribune Game of the Week at Hugh Walsh Field in Monroe on Friday night.

"We have a tremendous amount of respect for them and I know Stephen is looking forward to competing against them," Monroe head coach Chris Beagan said of facing Piscataway, which rolled to a 48-0 victory over East Brunswick last week.

The Chiefs, led by linebackers Aiden Rosa and Sellis Roberthson, recorded 18 tackles for a loss and limited East Brunswick to 33 yards from scrimmage.

"Of what game film I was able to see of their starters (who did not play much in the second half) against East Brunswick, they are pretty darn formidable," Chris Beagan said of Piscataway's front four, which features end Elorn Lumor and tackle Charles Mitchell.

"They control the line of scrimmage and that's going to be a battle for us. They go into every game thinking that's a key to their success."

Piscataway has more depth in the trenches than Monroe and an athletic secondary (Isaiah Ross, George Eley, Elijah Pierson, Tyrell Bush) that matches up well with Monroe's gifted receivers (David Matel-Okoh, Chase Santiago, Carlton Coleman, Miles Shipp).

"They fly to the ball, so they are always very dangerous," Beagan said of Piscataway's defensive backs.

"With our passing attack, we are going to have to be very precise. If you leave the ball in the air too long, chances are their kids are going to be able to make a play on it. That puts a little more pressure on the quarterback to make sure he is quick with his decisions and firing the ball."

Monroe running back Akeer Franklin, a Home News Tribune preseason All-GMC selection, was limited to 71 yards on 22 carries last week (3.2 per attempt).

Franklin and his offensive line, which provided solid pass protection and did create holes for two touchdown runs, need to perform with near-flawless precision if the Falcons are to have a chance for an upset.

A pass-catching threat out of the backfield, Franklin was used more as a decoy in that aspect against Edison, as Monroe favored its receivers over its short passing game.

"They have a fake for every run action that they have," Higgins said. "They fake the screens and go deep. It's a matter of having everybody sticking to their assignments. It's almost like an option type of mindset. The inside guys have got to handle the run and quarterback and the outside guys have got to be true and read their keys and cover their receivers. It sounds easier than it really is because their running back is capable of bouncing out and making plays, and the quarterback is able to get out there and make plays.

"There's so many things that they do. Their offensive package (modeled after UCLA's offense) is very good. We are going to have to defend the entire field because they stretch it out wide and they have exceptional playmakers."

Expect Piscataway to line up in a double tight end formation and to challenge Monroe to stop its vaunted running game, featuring Elijah Pierson and Elijah Barnwell.

Barnwell sat out last week's opener solely as a precaution with a nagging injury from which the sophomore sensation is completely healed.

Bush and Franklin, both dangerous return men, will be key on special teams, along with the kicking game of both teams.

Staff Writer Greg Tufaro: 732-565-7289; gtufaro@mycentraljersey.com