Glen Ridge 20 Newark Central 12
Glen Ridge jumped out to a 12-0 lead and did enough to block Newark Central’s attempts to come back, including three fourth-quarter interceptions, and win 20-12.
First Quarter: Central picked up a first down on the opening drive when Zahyir Taylor hit two short passes to Tyshawn Bailey, Jr., and Ryan Desauguste. But they were forced to punt, and Glen Rock started on their own 40-yard line when the punt was shanked. The Glen Ridge drive was hurt when a bad shotgun snap lost 17 yards, but it had new life when Central had a roughing the kicker penalty on the punt. The Ridgers eventually punted.
Second Quarter: After stopping a Central run on fourth down, Glen Ridge started their drive on the Central 38. The Ridgers picked up a first down and a facemask penalty on Central on the following play, bringing the ball to the 12-yard line. A third-down completion from Zach Konetzni to Myles Adams gave the Ridgers a first-and-goal on the 1. Konetzni scored on fourth down to put Glen Ridge up, 6-0, with 6:43 left. The Ridgers had great field position on the Central 15 when the punter bobbled the snap, and they extended the lead to 14-0 when Konetzni scored past the right pylon. Central threatened when Taylor found Dishon Jerman for 35 yards to the 18. The Blue Devils got on the board when Taylor ran past the left pylon with seconds left. However, the two-point conversion attempt failed, and the score remained 14-6.
Third Quarter: After the team exchanged punts twice, Glen Ridge drove the ball, but it eventually stalled.
Fourth Quarter: Central had the ball at midfield when Taylor found Jerman for 37 yards to the 15. Taylor rolled out to the right and found Bailey for a 9-yard touchdown. The two-point run was stuffed, and it was 14-12 with ten minutes left. The teams exchanged interceptions on consecutive plays when Zamar Carr intercepted for Central on their 20-yard line, followed by Konetzni picking off the pass on the Central 25-yard line and returning it to the 20-yard line. Glen Ridge scored when Konetzni, under pressure, found a sliding John Leone in the end zone for a touchdown with under seven minutes left. Central tried to answer, but Adams intercepted on the Glen Ridge 22. Central had its last chance with 2:38 left, but Konetzni had his second interception on the 6-yard line and returned it to the 30 with 1:43 left. At that point, Glen Ridge ran out the clock.
Comments: This was a penalty-filled game. My loose estimate has Central with 12 penalties and Glen Ridge with 11. Both teams need to reduce that, moving forward.
The catalyst for Glen Ridge was Konetzni, with two touchdown runs, one touchdown pass, and two interceptions on defense. Those two interceptions were crucial, along with one from Adams – all in the fourth quarter.
Central has a top player in Jerman, with 3 receptions for 74 yards, and he made his presence known on defense. Taylor was 17-28-158 and had three interceptions, and it was those interceptions that made the difference – all in the fourth quarter.