Backups save the day for Plainfield in big win over Elizabeth
PLAINFIELD – Plainfield’s 2023 football season got off to an auspicious start when junior quarterback Ala-Meen Watkins broke off an 82-yard touchdown run on the Cardinals’ first play from scrimmage.
But it was his backup, sophomore Kamai Lowery, who saved the day by directing a 79-yard, 11 play drive that ended with his 3-yard keeper with 2:50 remaining and lifted Plainfield to a 33-26 victory over Elizabeth on Saturday.
The outcome was significant for many reasons, not the least of which was the 100th career victory for Plainfield coach James Williams. The former Roselle mentor dismissed his milestone and chose to revel in what his team accomplished.
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The victory is Plainfield’s first season-opening triumph since 2019, and its first over Elizabeth since 2009, having gone 0-11-1 against its Union County rival since then. And it’s not too early to speculate whether Plainfield, winners of five games in each of the last two seasons, can register its first winning campaign since 2005.
Plainfield (1-0) never trailed in the first half as it forged a 25-20 advantage behind runs of 82 and 15 yards by Watkins, his 21-yard scoring strike to Joel Cordoba, and Cordoba’s 43-yard pick six.
Watkins carried 13 times for 109 yards while completing nine of 13 passes for 104 yards.
Plainfield was flagged for 11 penalties for 85 yards in an interminable first half, but did not commit an infraction in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, as the temperature continued to rise, several key Cardinals began cramping, including Watkins and stellar lineman Josue Cordoba, who both sat out the fourth quarter. Plainfield lost so many players to cramps that Williams employed some of his junior varsity defense for much of the second half.
“Our jayvee practices as hard as our varsity,” Williams explained. “They stepped up and they came through until our older guys were ready to come back in.”
Elizabeth (0-2) never led until Jamal Lyles scored on a 5-yard run for a 26-25 advantage with 8:19 remaining.
Plainfield, which hadn’t scored an offensive touchdown since midway through the second quarter, and without Watkins’ involvement, was now tasked with scoring again without its playmaking quarterback.
Lowery ran for three first downs and marched the Cardinals to the Elizabeth 16 after a 25-yard pass over the middle to Joel Cordoba. Lowery ran for another first down and produced the game-winner on a 3-yard jaunt off right tackle in which he was stopped outside the end zone but stretched to get the ball across the goal line before he went down.
“I was hoping to win the game for my team, we hadn’t beaten them in a long time,” Lowery explained. “I was trying to get the energy back for my team and keep everyone motivated. I really wanted it. I wanted it more than anything and had to fight for it.”
Plainfield has suffered some lean years lately and one can only wonder if the glorious days of the Big Red Machine have returned?
“We’re on our way,” said Williams with a sly grin.
ELIZABETH (0-2) 6-14-0-6-26
PLAINFIELD (1-0) 12-13-0-8-33
SCORING SUMMARY
P - Watkins 82 run (run failed)
E - Canty 7 pass from Fleming (kick failed)
P - Watkins 15 run (run failed)
P - Joel Cordoba 21 pass from Watkins (Avril kick)
E - Lyles 2 run (Lazo kick)
P - Joel Cordoba 43 interception return (run failed)
E - Smith 7 pass from Fleming (Lazo kick)
E - Lyles 9 run (pass failed)
P - Lowery 3 run (Bethune pass from Lowery)
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Backups save the day for Plainfield in big win over Elizabeth
