GMC Football: Colonia keeps rolling with win over JFK
WOODBRIDGE TOWNSHIP – Take away the shoulder pads, and they don’t look very much like football players. Colonia High School’s Mateo Campbell is 5-foot-6 and 145 pounds, while teammate Luke Pero is 5-5 and 160.
What would even make them think that they could be successful on the gridiron?
“We got heart, so that’s all that matters,” Pero said. “We might not be the tallest guys, but we play the toughest.”
The heart and toughness mantra seems to sum up the entire Colonia team, which won its fourth straight in a 41-13 victory over J.F. Kennedy in Greater Middlesex Conference White Division game Friday. Things are now rolling as the postseason approaches. Colonia has unofficially clinched a spot in the NJSIAA North 2 Group IV playoffs, which begins in two weeks
“The three phases of the game are really coming around,” Colonia coach Tom Roarty said. “We play a lot of seniors and it’s a good senior group. They’ve been together for four years. They’re just out here having fun.”
Sure, it’s always fun when the touchdowns and the tackles are a coming. Colonia, ranked No. 6 in the Home News Tribune Top 10, has outscored opponents 128-30 in that four-game stretch.
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Friday, Colonia led 20-7 at halftime as the game Mustangs showed their own toughness. They forced two field goals after Colonia had first-and-goals from the 1- and the 10-yard lines. Junior quarterback David Lee reeled off runs and completed a 55-yard pass to Damari Leacock that went to Colonia’s 7-yard line in the second quarter. Lee rushed it in on the next play.
But instead of a close contest down the stretch, Colonia broke it open. In all, the Patriots got six turnovers and forced another fumble that J.F. Kennedy recovered. Campbell recovered a fumble and snagged two interceptions. He also had a third pick, but it was called back because of a roughing the passer penalty.
Last week, Campbell had a 66-yard interception return for a touchdown. Friday, he was alert, swarming to every overthrown pass or bounce. Pero, meanwhile, rushed for a 1-yard touchdown and ran back a kickoff 85-yards in the fourth quarter for the final score.
“I tell you what, they are tough as nails,” Roarty said. “Mateo has just had an outstanding year. He’s just playing real well for us.”
Pero, also a top wrestler, unofficially rushed for 74 yards. The senior entered the game with 905 rushing yards for the season, and looks to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight year in the regular season finale next Friday at Perth Amboy.
Pero’s carrying on a family football tradition at Colonia. His older brothers Jake and Sam also played for the Patriots. Sam, who also wore number 11, was a senior when Luke was a senior. Luke said, “When I was growing up, middle school days, I always wanted to be like him as a running back.”
While Pero had a name in the backfield entering the season, senior quarterback Taj-Calvin Johnson is making his this fall in running the spread offense. The 5-10, 175-pounder looks like a football player. In 2016, he played wide receiver and was the back up to then-senior Tyler Layton, who threw for over 1,200 yards. Johnson had 501 yards from scrimmage in 2016 – 371 receiving yards and 122 rushing yards.
Johnson practiced all summer attending camps and playing on a 7-on-7 team. Among the biggest things he said he has improved on is being a leader and having to dodge more defenders while running as a QB.
“It took a while to improve because I had to get used to throwing again and knowing the plays,” said Johnson, who entered the game with 624 passing yards. “Knowing where to align and just doing my job.”
Friday, he rushed for touchdowns of 48 and 5 yards, and threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Matt Zawacki. Roarty said it was probably his best game at QB, noting, “I think Taj is starting to see things now. Everything is starting to slow down for him.”
“I think they were taking Luke away, and Taj was breaking runs,” Roarty said. “It’s his first year as quarterback, so he’s getting better and better every week. He really stepped out tonight and was our offensive leader. … He ran with confidence tonight. He’s just getting real comfortable with the offense.”
Also getting in on the scoring was Gianfranco Tiseo, who kicked field goals of 25 and 26 yards and nailed five extra points. The senior, who played for the Mustangs last season, played soccer as a freshman and “one of my friends just told me to come be the kicker. It turns out I was pretty good at it and I just got better over the years.”
Roarty said, “He’s a weapon as a kicker. Inside the 30, you’re going to come away with three points. So that’s big for us.”
Additionally, Colonia’s Matt Allardice had an interception and Anthony Palmisano and Matt Croteau each recovered a fumble. The whole defense played tough, and players having good games included defensive end Kyle Foster and tackles Michael Gonzales and Rob Paladino.
“Things are clicking now,” Johnson said. “We’re getting used to each other. We’re connecting with each other. This is our senior year and we’re just having fun.”
COLONIA (6-2) 14-6-14-7 – 41
J.F. KENNEDY (1-7) 0-7-0-6 – 13
C – Johnson 48 run (Tiseo kick)
C – Zawacki 23 pass from Johnson (Tiseo kick)
C – Tiseo 25 FG
JFK – Lee 7 run (Hafez kick)
C – Tiseo 26 FG
C – Pero 1 run (Tiseo kick)
C– Johnson 5 run (Tiseo kick)
JFK – Garced 2 run (kick failed)
C – Pero 85 run (Tiseo kick)