Middlesex defense, big plays lead to 14-6 victory
Quarterback A.J. Abate and fullback Matt Hode both felt it was simply a matter of time before the Middlesex High School football team's triple option would generate a big play or two.
After mustering just 28 yards in the opening half – a byproduct of some missed blocking assignments, three fumbles (only one of which was lost) and horrendous field position – the Blue Jays popped off two tide-turning big-gainers in Saturday's 14-6 comeback victory over defending Central Group I champion Point Pleasant Beach.
Hode scored on a 72-yard run to snap a 6-6 deadlock with five minutes left in the third quarter, while Abate set up a 1-yard touchdown plunge of his own with a 33-yard bomb to Dennis Brodnax on the previous possession.
"We lost on two big plays," Point Pleasant Beach coach John Wagner said. "I thought we played well defensively. When you have breakdowns against that (option) that's what happens."
The stellar defense of Middlesex (2-0), which began drives at its own 1, 2, 20 and 35 yards lines in the opening half, kept the Blue Jays in the game until their offense could get on track. Lineman Jack Sweeney led the Blue Jays with 10 tackles, including four for a loss.
Point Pleasant Beach (1-1), conversely, enjoyed excellent field position, starting three of its four first-half drives at the Middlesex 29, 33, and 48 yard lines.
After Middlesex lost a fumble at its own 33 to give the Garnett Gulls a short field with which to work late in the second quarter, linebacker Samaad Rawlins stuffed fullback Joe Wegrzyniak on a fourth-and-goal rushing attempt from the 2 to preserve a scoreless deadlock.
Wagner and his charges thought they recorded a safety on the very next play from scrimmage, but the officials ruled Abate down at the one inch line when it appeared he may have been tackled in the end zone.
Point Pleasant Beach scored on the ensuing possession with just 31 seconds left in the half. Benefitting from a short field again after forcing Middlesex to punt from deep in its own territory, Wegrzyniak capped a 29-yard, five-play drive with a 2-yard plunge. Quarterback Jake Fioretti rushed for 20 yards to convert a critical third-and-16 that kept the march alive.
When the second-half kickoff dribbled off the tee, allowing Middlesex to take over at its own 46 yard line, rookie head coach P.J. Jankowicz wasted little time cashing in. On the fifth play of that series, Abate lofted a perfectly throws pass in stride to Brodnax, a first-year football player who made an over-the-shoulder catch before being dragged down at the 1 yard line. The completion was Abate's lone passing attempt in the game.
"I knew that the (cornerback) was just playing tight on him," said Abate, who plunged into the end zone on the next play from scrimmage to forge a 6-6 draw. "We took a shot down field and he was wide open."
"I wanted to throw a little sooner, but the field position was not great," Jankowicz said. "I just got sick of it. We weren't really in position to take many shots and we didn't play that great in the first half. I wasn't thrilled with the way we came out. We did some things uncharacteristic of us. We pride ourselves on not making mistakes and we had a couple of missed assignments and stuff like that.
"I think Point Beach had a lot to do with that. One thing we talk about is playing at a championship level and practicing at a championship level. They are the defending (sectional) champs. Once we got used to the game speed, I thought we were good."
Point Pleasant Beach was limited to 65 second-half yards, 60 of which came on its only sustained drive after intermission.
"I said to the kids, if we lose, I want to lose playing our game," said Wagner, noting he felt the Garnett Gulls jumped offside too often and failed to make critical plays in the second half. "Hats off to Middlesex. They won a football game they were very excited to be in, but we didn't get it done. Period. There's certainly no excuses."
Middlesex's offense helped out the previously overworked defense, rolling up 184 yards from scrimmage while running 25 plays (compared to just 16 in the first half) over the third and fourth quarters.
"The option didn't look great in the preseason," Jankowicz said. "We needed every minute of preseason and last week (season-opening win over Highland Park) helped as well. But what a time for it to come out. We just preached they've got to take away Matt Hode if opponents want to have success against us."
Hode finished with a game-high 107 yards on 10 carries, 72 of which came on his scoring jaunt.
"On that one play I just saw an open hole," Hode said of his touchdown run. "I knew we needed momentum to keep the offense going."
Jankowicz said facing two Wing-T teams in preseason scrimmages prepared his team for the Garnett Gulls, who run that very offense. Forced to the air in the fourth quarter, Fioretti threw four consecutive incompletions after completing his first three attempts for 33 yards.
Jankowicz said the Blue Jays always had potential, but that they never believed in themselves. After defeating the defending sectional champions, Jankowicz hopes his team's confidence will soar.
"The talent has always been here, but for whatever reason it's been in hibernation," he said. "But now it's out. The kids are confident. They are playing excited and that's one of the things we wanted to work on, was matching the energy."
An enthusiastic student section, which had been positive yet loud the entire game, rushed onto the field to celebrate the Blue Jays' victory.
"This is a big win for Middlesex," Jankowicz said.
Point Pleasant Beach (1-1) – 0 6 0 0 – 6
Middlesex (2-0) – 0 0 14 0 – 14
P – Wegrzyniak 2 run (kick failed)
M – Abate 1 run (kick failed)
M – Hode 72 run (Hode pass to Brodnax)
Rushing: PB – Frauenheim 9-60, Wegrzyniak 20-61, Antagnoli 1-1, Schaller 4-2, Fioretti 3-10; M – Hode 10-107, Marshall 7-31, Abate 13-13, Wilson 5-29, Coke 1-2.
Passing: PB – Fioretti 3-7-0-33; M – Hode 1-1-0-33.
Receiving: PB – Frauenheim 1-7, Schaller 1-7, Napolielo 1-19; M – Brodnax 1-33.