GMC Football: Jackson rushes Piscataway past East Brunswick

The muggy remnants of Irma hung heavy from the syrupy sky, but Juwan Jackson was able to move smoothly through the night, rushing for 264 yards on 16 carries and four touchdowns as the Piscataway High School football team defeated East Brunswick 35-0.

Piscataway struck on the first play from scrimmage, as Jackson bounced a stretch play to the outside and shot down the left sideline, outracing the East Brunswick defense and giving the Chiefs a 7-0 lead just 13 seconds into the game. 

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East Brunswick was able to pick up a first down on the ensuing drive, but an offsides penalty was too much to overcome and the Bears were forced to punt from their own 43.

Joseph Hatcher went to work right away from the Piscataway 27 as he hit Nahjir Woods on a quick screen. Woods broke a tackle and got key downfield blocks from Jordin Martell and Brijon Artis, springing him for a 62-yard play, and the Chiefs were in business at the Bears 11. Three plays later Jackson went in from 8 yards out and Piscataway led 13-0 as the point after was missed.

The Bears went three and out on the next series and a short punt gave the Chiefs field position at their own 48. Unlike the previous drives which used big plays to advance the ball, Piscataway relied on ball control, running the B gaps and changing it up with short passes. Hatcher completed 4 of 4 passes for 36 yards on the 12-play drive, rolling left and floating the last one to Kamille Pryor for a 12-yard score.  Hatcher hit Jackson for the two-point conversion and Piscataway was up at the end of one 21-0.

East Brunswick's balanced offense took control for the rest of the first quarter and most of the second quarter, as quarterback James Schuld mixed counters and folds with square outs and the occasional scramble to move the Bears down the field.

Zahir Jackson (20 rushes for 84 yards) and Schuld totaled 61 yards on the ground and through the air as the hosts moved from their 24 to the Piscataway 8, converting three third-downs along the way. A Piscataway offsides penalty moved the ball to the Chiefs 4 and there the defense held. A holding penalty against the Bears moved the ball back to the Piscataway 18, but the only advance from the Bears came on Schuld's 11-yard scramble on third and goal. A 24-yard field goal attempt was wide right, thus ending the massive 16-play drive and the Bears’ best scoring opportunity of the evening.

Jackson hit pay dirt from 26 and 83 yards in the second half as Piscataway finished up their 27th consecutive victory over East Brunswick.

Piscataway finished with 305 yards rushing on 27 carries. East Brunswick had 37 carries for 97 yards.  Hatcher was 6 of 15 for 123 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Schuld was 6 of 12 for 46 yards without a pick.

Piscataway hosts South Brunswick next week in a big early-season GMC Red Division showdown, while the much-improved Bears travel to Monroe.