Gargano impresses in big win for Old Bridge
OLD BRIDGE – Old Bridge’s senior quarterback Michael Gargano was the hot hand for his offense, so hot he may have literally burnt a hole in the Edison High School defense.
In his final home opener Gargano amounted for 241 total yards and four touchdowns in Old Bridge’s 41-7 blowout win over the Edison Eagles at Lombardi Stadium Friday night.
The “I Believe We Will Win” chant rang throughout the entire sports complex and the bleachers shook so much, it was as if they were coming down during the opening kickoff.
“It was great,“said Gargano.”The fans were really into it and gave us a lift. In the beginning I was a little nervous,” said Gargano.“Once I got out there, after the first play, it was all gone and I was ready to go.”
Efficiency was the story of the night for Gargano who average 10.1 YPC and went 9 of 14 passing the ball.
Old Bridge returned this year with just four starters on each side of the ball however the offensive line didn’t hold their production down outworking Edison in total yardage 231-90 in the first half.
“We really wrapped them (Offensive Line) all summer,” said Old Bridge head coach Anthony Lanzafama. “Our biggest thing was getting those kids some experience. Just to get that first game under their belt last week was a big benefit in how they played here in game two.”
The Knights took less than four minutes to cash in on their first possession capping off an eight-play drive with a Gargano 23-yard strike to his senior tight end Dante Whipple.
The Eagles looked to answer quickly and were driving the ball for well over four minutes before a fumble by Senior running back Joseph Kim cost them a good look inside Old Bridge territory.
Kim was the leading rusher and receiver for the Eagles coming into tonight and managed to total just 41 yards.
Coming into the night, the #4 ranked Knight’s leading rusher was Myles Williams, fresh off a 108-yard performance in the opening weekend against New Brunswick.
Tonight it was Gargano, Gargano, and more Gargano who before the half was out rushed for two more touchdowns, and connected with his big senior receiver Tyler Hopman for one more.
“It felt great,” said Hopman. “I just do everything taught by my coaches and the offensive line did their job up front. When they do that it gives our receivers a chance to go up and make a play.”
Hopman led the team in receiving yards last year and leads them in receiving touchdowns this year.
The Knights who led 34-0 at halftime were able to sit many of their starters after they cashed in on a 3-yard touchdown run by Nick Sodano in the second half.
They outworked, outmanned and simply outplayed the Eagles in all aspects of this one who had most of their yards including their lone touchdown in scrap time during the fourth
The Eagles fell to 0-2 and will face Piscataway at home next week trying to bounce back. The Knights travel to South Brunswick next Saturday.
OLD BRIDGE (2-0)… 13 21 7 0 — 41
EDISON (0-2) …0 0 0 7 — 7
SCORING SUMMARY
OB-Whipple 23 yd Catch (Mish kick)
OB-Hopman 6 yd Catch (Kick failed)
OB-Esposito 23 yd run (Mish kick)
OB-Gargano 18 yd run (Mish kick)
OB-Gargano 7 yd run (Mish kick)
OB- Sodano 2 yd run (Mish kick)
E- Turner 1 yd catch (Asamoah kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: OB- Gargano – 14-142, Williams 5-39, Esposito 1-26, Valdez 2-13 Crossman 2-4, Altomonte 1-3, Deciccio 2-3 Sodano 1-2. E- Yates 11-54, Daniels 8-24, Souley 3-15, Andrews 2-3.
PASSING: OB- Gargano 9-14-2-99. E- Daniels 10-19-1-136
RECEIVING: OB - Whipple 1-23, Hopman 2-21, Espositio 1-19, Valdez 1-14, Williams 2-7, Trawick 1-5. E- Turner 4-59, Kim 2-41, Hopkins 1-24, Andrews 1-5, Yates 1-2.