I saw parts of four games today and this post will focus on the two afternoon games.
Game 1 – Shabazz at Glen Ridge
This game went as expected, as Shabazz rolled to a 39-0 halftime lead over Glen Ridge. The Bulldogs got on the board when Brandon Shaw blocked a punt that was recovered on the GR 20. Shortly after, Aziz Wilson scored on a 6-yard run. The Glen Ridge punter fumbled a snap on their following drive and ran unsuccessfully to his own 15. Quarterback Anthony Travis scored from two yards out for a 12-0 lead. After recovering a Glen Ridge fumble, Wilson scored on a 34-yard run to make it 18-0 late in the first.
Shabazz kept rolling when Wilson scored for the third time on a 6-yard run for a 25-0 lead with 6:51 left in the half. Travis closed out the half with two touchdown passes: a 75-yarder to Raekwon Robinson and an 15-yarder to Michael Bright for the 39-0 lead.
Shabazz found its groove as the half progressed. Travis is back at QB from a 12-0 season, looking very poised and they have weapons on offense, such as Wilson and some of their receivers. In addition, their defense made it hard for Glen Ridge to move the ball. I think they can improve and be a real force come playoff time.
Glen Ridge was overwhelmed with a young team and only suited up 22 players. They graduated many starters and have an inexperienced squad. But they kept playing, exemplified when Jackson Crutchfield raced down the field to tackle and prevent a touchdown late in the half.
Game 2 – Hackensack at Eastside
It was late in the third quarter when I arrived at this game, as there was plenty of traffic coming up the Garden State Parkway, with Hackensack leading, 31-10.
Early in the fourth quarter, Eastside scored when freshman receiver Ahsin Jacobs caught a short pass. Hackensack came right back on a 55-yard touchdown run by Tymere Robinson and Jeberal Habehh scored on a 2-yard run with two minutes left. The Comets scored on the game’s final play on a long interception.
Hackensack is improved from last year and have a good chance to make the playoffs. They will be tested next week by Passaic Tech, but they ran the ball successfully the little I saw them.
The player who stood out for Eastside was Jacobs, the freshman wide receiver, catching several passes in the fourth quarter.