GMC Football Game of the Week: Carteret at Colonia

Much attention has deservedly been paid to the Colonia High School football team’s offense, but the Patriots have been playing equally well on the other side of the ball.

“Everybody talks about the running game and the passing game, but our defense has been pretty solid so far,” Colonia coach Tom Roarty said entering the Home News Tribune Greater Middlesex Conference Game of the Week against Carteret on Friday night.

Colonia’s linebackers – featuring Raul Cardona (scholarship offer to Bryant) and Solomon Manning (being recruited by Boston College) – are among the league’s best.

The Patriots are skilled and sizable up front with Mike Quinn and Jimmy Becker, while their secondary, featuring Chase and Bryce Barneys, has been exceptional.

Colonia (3-0 overall, 3-0 division), ranked No. 5 in the Home News Tribune Top 10, and the seventh-ranked Ramblers (2-1 overall, 2-0 division) are the lone remaining teams with unblemished White Division records.

The winner of the showdown, which kicks off at 7 on Colonia’s new turf field, will take sole possession of first place in the division.

Colonia is averaging 32 points per game behind running back Sam Pero (440 rushing yards), dual threat quarterback Tenny Adewusi (565 yards from scrimmage), a host of gifted receivers and a solid offensive line.

The Patriots will face a stern test from a Carteret defense that has yet to allow a point in division play this season and which has exceled at stopping teams in the red zone.

End Sam Kamara (team-leading 26 tackles) anchors the defense along with four-year starting safety Brandon Gilder and linebacker Rakeem Bennett. Hassan Williams recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass in last weekend’s 26-2 victory over New Brunswick.

The game shapes up as a defensive battle with Colonia needing to slow down the Ramblers running game and to be mindful of Carteret’s ability to throw off play action, as it did with two long scoring strikes last weekend.

“We are going to try to run and make big plays in the passing game,” Carteret coach Matt Yascko said. “I think we would like to control the ball a little bit and keep their offense off the field. That’s definitely a part of the game plan.”

Yascko said planning and executing against Colonia’s defense are two different stories.

“They are aggressive and fast to the ball,” he said. “I think the Cardona kid is a phenomenal middle linebacker. They are super athletic in the secondary. We’ve seen them play five or six kids back there and they all seem to make plays. The size of the front line is most impressive to me. I just think they have a really good combination of size and speed.”

Colonia’s first-team defense has allowed just two touchdowns this season – one to J.F. Kennedy and another to Perth Amboy.

The Ramblers have balance with Bennett at tailback, Nelson Baez (6 of 8 for 217 yards last weekend) at quarterback and Gilder (eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards for his career last weekend) at receiver.

“They come at you,” Roarty said. “They want to run you over. They play physical, tough football. The game is going to be decided in the trenches, as they say.

“Both defensive coordinators are in for a long night with these two teams.”

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