Football: Edison, Old Bridge battle to 42-42 triple OT tie

MATAWAN - Justin Turner, a converted wide receiver who played a phenomenal game at quarterback, was inconsolable as he gathered with his Edison High School football teammates following a thrilling 42-42 triple-overtime tie with Old Bridge at Lombardi Field on Friday night.

The senior signal caller, who inherited the position when incumbent Haaziq Daniels transferred to St. John Vianney before the start of the academic year, lost the handle on a keeper on a first-and-goal from the 1 yard line on the game’s final play.

Under NJSIAA rules, if a deadlock cannot be broken after three overtimes, the contest is ruled a tie.

Liam Knowles wrapped up the ankles of Turner, who faked a handoff to running back James Stewart, and the quarterback fumbled the pigskin while making a second effort to stretch his arm across the goal line.

Nick Sodano recovered the loose ball, setting off a wild celebration on the Old Bridge sideline as the incumbent Central Group V finalist Knights (2-1-1) extended their unbeaten streak against the Eagles (1-1-1) to seven games including last year’s equally thrilling 38-35 NJSIAA playoff victory.

Turner, who completed 17 of 25 passes for 224 yards and two scores, forced overtime, engineering a game-tying 80-yard touchdown drive during which he completed three consecutive passes for 68 yards as the Eagles knotted the contest at 35-35 on their field general’s 4-yard scramble on fourth down with 55 seconds left in regulation.

“It was an outstanding football game against a great opponent,” said Edison head coach Matt Fulham, whose team hasn’t beaten the Knights since 2010. “We’ve had a couple of battles over the past couple of years. This was another example of that. They are a well-coached and physical football team. Both teams deserved to win. I feel proud of our kids and our coaching staff. We had a great plan, we executed and our kids played with a lot of heart. I’m real proud of them.

“You’ve got to win a game like this. We had opportunities to win and didn’t execute when we needed to. With the ball in our hands at the one yard line, you’ve got to finish the game, and we didn’t. It’s not Justin’s fault. He had a great game and he threw a lot of great passes. He did a great job.”

Old Bridge took a 42-35 lead as junior quarterback Artur Sitkowski, one of the most heavily recruited signal callers in the country, scored on a 1-yard keeper in the first overtime. Sitkowski completed 10-of -19 passes for 165 yards and rushed 16 times for 40 yards and two touchdowns.

Stewart, who finished with 157 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries, scored on a 25-yard run on Edison’s first overtime possession as the Eagles forged a 42-42 tie.

On Edison’s possession in the second overtime, defensive back Paul Ferralli broke up what otherwise likely would have been a game-winning touchdown pass, as he batted the ball away from intended receiver Keanu Reed just in front of the end zone on a fourth-and-long from the 20-yard line.

On Old Bridge’s possession in the second overtime, Jon Sammarco, who booted a game-winning field goal in the closing minutes of a 28-25 win over South Brunswick earlier this season, missed a 40-yard field goal attempt by mere inches. His attempt came after the Knights were penalized five yards for a false start.

Sodano rushed 18 times for 162 yards and three touchdowns. His scoring jaunts of 58 yards (with 8:03 left in the third quarter) and eight yards (with 6:37 remaining in regulation) enabled the Knights to erase a 28-21 deficit and build a 35-28 lead.

Sitkowski – whose 40-yard touchdown run on the game’s second play from scrimmage gave the Knights a 7-0 lead – set up a 1-yard quarterback sneak for a score with a 36-yard bomb to Anthony Imbimbo that gave the Knights a 21-14 lead midway through the third quarter.

Stewart, who had been limited to a mere 29 yards on his first 12 carries, broke off scoring runs of 64 and 29 yards on consecutive touches to help the Eagles erase the 21-14 deficit and take a 28-21 lead with 9:35 left in regulation.

Edison forged a 7-7 tie when Turner capped a 58-yard drive with a 28-yard scoring strike to Reed. Turner completed all three of his pass attempts on the march for 43 yards. Reed finished with seven catches for 133 yards.

Sodano gave the Knights a 13-7 lead on his 21-yard run with 8:47 left in the second quarter. Old Bridge converted two fourth downs on the drive.

Edison took a 14-13 advantage on Turner’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Dominic Kurtyan with 7:17 left in the third quarter.

In the opening half, the Eagles were outgained 180 to 74 in total yards from scrimmage. They were limited to nine rushing yards.

“We’re going to win a lot of games if we continue to play with that kind of effort,” Fulham told the Eagles in the postgame huddle. “I’m damn proud of you guys. You have nothing to be ashamed of.”