GMC Football: Pero rallies Colonia over North Brunswick

Running back Luke Pero rushed for 138 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries while leading the Colonia High School football team to a 28-12 comeback victory over North Brunswick.

The vastly improved Raiders took a 12-7 lead into the fourth quarter. Pero put the Patriots up for good with his second touchdown run of the night, an 8-yard jaunt that gave Colonia a 14-12 advantage.

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Colonia (2-0) took a 21-12 lead on a 56-yard run from Pero, who made a slew of defenders miss on his way to the end zone.

Matt Allardice closed out the scoring with a 24-yard interception return.

Myles Bailey had a 5-yard touchdown run for the Raiders. North Brunswick quarterback Christian Petrillo had a 10-yard touchdown pass Manny Herrera. 

“They are much improved,” Colonia head coach Tom Roarty said of the Raiders. “They are light years from where they were last year. They are a tough team. They are talented. Their skill kids are good. They have a good offensive line. We were very lucky. I wouldn’t want to see them a couple of weeks from now.”

Colonia’s defense tightened up in the second half and the offensive line started to open holes for Pero, whose 23-yard touchdown run gave the Patriots a short-lived 7-6 lead in the first half.

“The offensive line started to take over and Luke got stronger as the game went on,” Roarty said. “We started to get him more touches.”