SPORTS

Piscataway football clinches Red Division title, secures No. 2 seed for playoffs

Greg Tufaro
@GregTufaro

The Piscataway High School football team clinched a No. 2 seed for the Central Group V playoffs and captured the Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division title with a 52-13 victory over Edison at Ciardi Stadium on Friday night.

The combination of Piscataway’s win and Old Bridge’s loss to Sayreville enabled the Chiefs to win the division championship with a 6-1 division record. The division title is Piscataway’s first since 2010.

Piscataway, which improved to 6-2 overall, will be seeded in its playoff section behind Manalapan, which rallied from a 10-point deficit for a 21-10 victory over the Chiefs last weekend. The Chiefs will host Hunterdon Central in a first-round game next weekend.

The NJSIAA will announce official playoff pairings on Sunday. The eight teams with the most power points in each section at the conclusion of this weekend’s action will qualify for the playoffs, which commence with first-round games next weekend at the site of the higher seed.

Edison (2-5-1), which needed to upset Piscataway to make the playoffs, was eliminated from postseason contention. The loss was the Eagles’ third straight to the Chiefs.

“The Red Division is a tough place to play, so for us to win it, I’m very proud of that,” Piscataway head coach Dan Higgins said. “The program is pretty excited that we were able to win the Red Division, and when you win (the division title), it means you’re having a good year.”

The 52 points the Chiefs scored were the most they posted in the regular season since a 62-19 win over J.P. Stevens on Sept. 21, 2012.

Piscataway’s offensive explosion included a school-record 44-yard field goal from placekicker Michael Stalenyj.

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Senior running back Elijah Barnwell, who holds a scholarship offer from Rutgers University, carried 16 times for 133 yards and three touchdowns.

Quarterbacks Danny Haus (4 of 6 for 60 yards) and Joey Hatcher (4 of 6 for 50 yards) combined for 110 yards through the air. Haus even lined up at receiver and caught a pass. Trey Hogan led the Chiefs with 55 receiving yards. Juwan Jackson rushed for 74 yards and two scores. Keshawn Grant had a 5-yard touchdown catch.

“We know what we’ve got with Barnwell,” Higgins said of Piscataway’s career rushing leader, “so anytime we can spread the ball around is when we are at our best. I was happy to see us moving the ball through the air and Stalenyj hitting a 44-yarder. I’m happy that we had so many people involved in the offensive execution for us.”

Piscataway defensive back Nahjir Woods intercepted two passes, returning one of his picks 95 yards for a score.

Edison signal caller Justin Turner completed 9 of 16 passes for 185 yards. He connected with Keanu Reed (eight catches for 158 yards) on two scoring strikes.

Reilly Gonzalez was Edison’s leading rusher with seven carries for 27 yards.

The Chiefs of Piscataway High School take on the Vikings of South Brunswick in a varsity football game at South Brunswick High School on Friday September 23, 2016.
Piscataway's # 2 Elijah Barnwell carries three South Brunswick defenders with him in for a 1st quarter touchdown.