Football: Team effort lifts Hunterdon Central over Franklin
SOMERSET — When it was nice and somewhat dry, quarterback Christian Shaw dropped back and played like a video game piece, chucking first downs to half a dozen receivers. When it got chilly and wet, a trio of Hunterdon Central runners ate the clock with a ground pounding.
In all, the Red Devils put together a complete game Thursday in a 21-10 win over Franklin in a Mid-State 38 contest. Both teams were looking to remain afloat in the Delaware Division. Hunterdon Central has now won seven of its past eight games against the Warriors. Thursday, it wasn’t easy. After a scoreless first quarter, the Red Devils earned a methodical victory, opening a 21-3 lead late in the fourth quarter.
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“All-around, we’re coming together as a unit, so I like it,” Shaw said. “The short game, the long game, everything was working. … So, it was an all-around good team effort. We were smooth, solid, executing everything.”
Shaw threw for 148 yards and tossed an 18-yard touchdown to tight end Alexander Molto and a 25-yard score to receiver Anthony Schnitzlein. Running back Blake Leeds added a late 1-yard score to seal the win, as Nicholas Bryant and Devin Trechock got key carries in the second half. Derek Scott kicked three extra points for the Red Devils (2-2), which have now won two straight.
“I think we’ve improved offensively each week,” Hunterdon Central coach Matt Perotti said. “And I think our defense is starting to play well.”
Indeed, Shaw likes playing Madden on his Xbox. Thursday, he felt like a pixel character at times as the line of Billy Hutchings (LT), Kyle Kuhl (LG), Billy Kovacs (C), Victor Lacombe (RG) and Evan Fiorini (RT) gave him ample time.
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“When I have a lot of receivers that are catching, they’re open,” Shaw said. “The line’s blocking. I got all the time in the world. It’s pretty much just like playing Madden. … Sometimes it felt like I was in a video game. Just had all the time back there, so when it happens, it’s good. We’re all coming together well.”
But it wasn’t a perfect game. Franklin’s Tayo Badru snagged two interceptions in the second half as the Red Devils were driving within the Warriors’ 30-yard line. Franklin kept coming, and Badru caught a 30-yard touchdown from Antonio Scott with 3:31 left in the game. The two juniors highlight Franklin’s potential. Additionally, senior running back DeAndre Taylor moved the ball.
Franklin struck first when Helal Helal booted a 26-yard field goal with just under four minutes into the second quarter. On that 15-play, 89-yard drive, Scott completed two passes to Badru for a combined 52 yards.
But in the second quarter, the Red Devils passing attack went into full activation. They scored on two fast, efficient drives to take a 14-3 lead into the intermission. Following the field goal, it took Shaw and company 10 plays to move 71 yards in 4:02. The drive was capped by Shaw throwing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Molto for a 7-3 lead with 3:50 left before halftime.
Following a Franklin punt, the Red Devils received the ball with 43 seconds remaining in the half. More than enough time. Hunterdon Central came up with a five-play, 69-yard drive in 29 seconds. David Scheier caught a 21-yard pass to move it along. Shaw capped the drive with a 25-yard scoring pass to Schnitzlein in the left corner of the end zone with 8 seconds remaining before intermission.
Hunterdon Central played without senior captain Andrew Knight, who suffered an injury in last week’s 14-0 win over Montgomery. Filling in for him were Kyle Kuhl and Chris Sadlon as both applied pressure on the pass rush. Defensive back Liam Walker and linebacker Jack Kovi also led the way defensively.
All in all, it was a good team win.
“I think kudos have to go out to our offensive line," Perotti said. "And I think Christian’s getting better every game as we go. He’s really starting to maintain his poise in the pocket a lot better, and making some things happen for us, so we’re pretty excited.”
HUNTERDON CENTRAL (2-2) 0-14-0-7-21
FRANKLIN (0-4) 0-3-0-7-10
SCORING SUMMARY
F – Helal 26 FG
HC - Molto 18 pass from Shaw (Scott kick)
HC - Schnitzlein 25 pass from Shaw (Scott kick)
HC - Leeds 1 run (Scott kick)
F - Badru 30 pass from Scott (Helal kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing - HC: Trechock 11-72, Bryant 8-41, Leeds 11-16, Shaw 3-11; F: Taylor 10-44, M. Roberts 3-9.
Passing - HC: Shaw 12-17-2-148; F: Scott 10-18-0-95.
Receiving - HC: Martucci 4-44, Schnitzlein 2-36, DePaola 3-27, Scheier 1-21, Molto 1-18, Fotouhi 1-2; F: Badru 4-42, Boston 3-37, Reinberry 1-10, Taylor 1-6.