Spotswood football clinches GMC Blue Division title

METUCHEN - The first thing you have to be in order to be a part of the Spotswood High School football program, according to coach Andy Cammarano, is “committed.” Committed to the grind during practice, in the weight room and committed to having your teammates' back on and off the field.

With the complete buy in from the coaches and players, Spotswood (6-3) captured its third consecutive Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division title with a 34-13 victory over Metuchen on Saturday.

“What it is the kids are really committed,” Cammarano said. “We have a great ‘commitment’ shirt we give out every summer to all the kids at practice. That’s what it comes downs to, people showing up, working hard and believing.”

Spotswood entered Saturday's matchup against Metuchen (2-5) having lost three straight games after a 5-0 start to the season. Despite the losing streak, the Chargers came out on Saturday firing on all cylinders, led by sophomore Eddie Rodgers, who started his first game as quarterback after senior Nick Mohr was injured in last week’s 42-6 loss to Raritan.

Spotswood’s defense got right to work as junior defensive tackle Jesse Sowell was able to bounce on the ball on the opening drive of the game after Metuchen’s quarterback Willie Hronich fumbled the hand off.

Rodgers took the field for the first time as starting quarterback and marched the offense down the field for a 65-yard scoring drive, which he capped off with a 6-yard touchdown run to put the Chargers up 6-0 with 5:53 remaining in the first quarter.

“I’ve been playing Pop Warner since I was four years-old,” said Rodgers, who finished the game with 145-yards on the ground on 12 carries with two rushing touchdowns. “I’ve been getting second huddle reps and today the whole thing came together. I just did what I had to do and we got it done."

Despite the turnover on the first possession, Metuchen was able to bounce back on the next possession as Justin Briggs broke through the middle on a fullback hand off, where he outpaced the Chargers defenders to the end zone for a 69-yard touchdown.

With the extra point the Bulldogs took a 7-6 lead with 4:53 remaining in the first quarter.

Down one point, Spotswood’s 5-foot-11, 180-pound sophomore got right back to work under center. Rodgers received the snap in shotgun formation, ran it through the middle and was able to bounce it outside the numbers after a jump-cut for a 52-yard rushing touchdown that put the Chargers up 13-7 with 3:44 remaining in the opening quarter.

“I just followed my blockers and they led me to the end zone,” Rodgers said. “I just turn on my speed when I need it. I wait until I find a hole and just punch it.”

With Spotswood’s offense rolling, Metuchen’s defense came up big in the second quarter. The Bulldogs were able to stop the Chargers on third down from the 19-yard line to force a field goal attempt, which Ryan Szatkowski came up short on. Following the missed field goal, the Bulldogs’ offense punted the ball away and forced their defense to come up big again. The Chargers came up a yard short on a fourth-and-five in the red zone with 5:08 remaining in the first half. The Bullldogs were able to capitalize on the turnover on downs as Hronich found junior wide receiver Sean McCadden wide open for a 90-yard touchdown with 2:50 remaining before the break.

After a missed extra point attempt on the long score, the Bulldogs and Chargers were tied 13-13 at halftime. While the score was all tied up at the half, the Chargers took complete control of the game in the second half.

The Chargers offense put together two time-consuming drives in the third quarter that were capped off by senior running back Jack Keenan, who finished the contest with 152 rushing yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns.

“The offensive line did a great job opening the holes today,” Keenan said. “They do a great job during practice preparing for these types of situations. Opening up holes, working on the sleds and doing one-on-ones; they do a great job.”

While the offense gave the Chargers a comfortable 27-13 lead in the third quarter, it was the defense that sealed the victory.

Yousef Elhalaka came up with a huge sack on third down to force a punt and Nick Vincelli had an interception in the fourth quarter. Vincelli also was able to break off a 45-yard run for the final touchdown of the game to give the Chargers a 34-13 win.

With the dominant victory over the Bulldogs, the Chargers have now won 26 games in the past four years. The consistency the Chargers display year after year is a testament to the commitment each player has.

“When we were freshman it was awesome seeing the seniors turn around the program,” Keenan said. “You start off as a freshman and have to earn your stripes. You can go from a (third string player) to a one really quick. That’s what this program is about.”