Piscataway football goes old-school in BCC win over Old Bridge
OLD BRIDGE – Piscataway really didn't do anything all that fancy in its 28-7 win over Old Bridge. The Chiefs just kept coming on offense and peppered in key defensive plays in Friday's Big Central Conference National Gold Division game.
The old-school football was more than enough.
On a rainy night with sloshy turf, the only things missing were the mud hanging off helmets and collecting underneath fingernails.
Piscataway put together two sustained drives that moved the ball in the first half that resulted in a pair of Horace Thompson short touchdown runs for a 14-7 halftime lead.
“That was calculated,” said Piscataway coach Dan Higgins, pointing to the rain. “You can’t do everything you want to do because the conditions don’t let you. So power run is more what’s appropriate and we could pass the short passes but not the deeper ones. We tried to do a little of everything.”
De’Shaun Stephens sealed the win with some flash as he returned an interception 75 yards down the right sideline for the final score in the fourth quarter.
The Chiefs (3-3 overall, 2-1 in division) capitalized off another turnover to take a 21-7 lead early in the third quarter.
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Kenley Candil intercepted a pass at Old Bridge’s 49-yard line. That led to the Chiefs’ third touchdown when Elan McCrorey threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Stephens, who was in the end zone just over the goal line. Candil’s PAT made it 21-7 with 7:56 left in the third quarter.
Players that moved the ball with runs or receptions included Kiandre Dato-Snead, Jahai Johnson, James Bodley, Candil and Dajuan Weems, as Landon Pernell and McCrorey each played quarterback.
“When we’re playing really well,” Higgins said, “I love when everybody gets touches. We have so much talent on this team and when we get the ball to all the different backs and receivers, that’s when we’re healthiest and toughest to stop because you can’t double one receiver.”
In the early tight defensive game, it was Old Bridge (1-5, 1-2) that created the first break.
The Knights’ Kevin Diaz caused a fumble that Jared Ruderman covered at Piscataway’s seven-yard line. Jaden Griffith bolted in the touchdown on the next possession. Joshua Endaz’s extra point made it 7-0 with 4:16 left in the first quarter.
“They scored,” Stephens said. “They got the momentum. We came back and just pounded. Pounded every drive, even the drives we didn’t score we still pounded.”
Higgins added, “That’s another sign of growth when you don’t get upset. You just go to work and you just keep challenging yourself.”
The Chiefs had several new starters to begin the season and the development is apparent from August to now. He pointed to the offensive line of tackles Jayden Harrison and Riley Wingate, guards Altarik White Jr. and Troy Hutchinson, center Nathan Waldorf and tight end Donald Nwaigwe as improving.
“Oh man, night and day,” Higgins noted. “Night and day. They were so raw in the beginning and we just keep getting better.”
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Piscataway football beats Old Bridge in BCC National Gold Division
