CLARK, NJ- The Johnson Crusaders varsity football team fell to the Delaware Valley Terriers by a final score of 26-14, their home opener. Turnovers and not getting key stops cost the Crusaders, including one lost fumble and not containing Delaware Valley’s Tyler Neal proved costly and not being able to punch through on chances, which has been a force for them in previous seasons. These elements combined were not helpful on the evening as the Crusaders sustained their second setback of the year.
1.) Mistakes, Mistakes, Mistakes
Throughout the afternoon, there were mistakes that were made on the field that stalled several chances where they could have built on their lead.
The first one, facing first down and goal deep inside the Delaware Valley red zone, but losing the ball on the snap, costing a great opportunity to add points on the board. The first quarter was scoreless between the two teams before the Terriers scored later in the second quarter (not on the drive that followed the lost fumble).
The biggest mistake of the game, not keeping up to get to Delaware Valley senior running back Tyler Neal, who fueled his team on the offense. In total, he ran the ball 25 times for 163 rushing yards and for all four of the visiting team’s touchdowns.
2.) Some Growth in Areas of the Game
At times, Johnson did struggle to gain much on offense, with striking at key parts to get back in the game. That featured sophomore quarterback Joe Greenbush airing out a 51-yard touchdown pass to junior Max Carmino that tied the game at 7-7.
There were not really consistent movement of the ball, with penalties marring their performance throughout the field. Johnson would have a few good plays of gaining yards, but have it followed by a few plays where they would not get as much. To improve their game plan, they need to be able to get everybody involved and really make the most out of their chances.
Joe Greenbush looked good on the field and gave his team a chance to get closer to potentially winning the game. He went 5-for-9 with 61 passing yards, including the 51-yard strike to Carmino. Greenbush also ran for 109 yards on 19 carries on the ground game. Sebastian Iakouchevitch continues to look good in his second game as the number one running back, carrying the ball 14 times for 71 rushing yards.
3.) Brush it Off and Prepare for the Saturday Game
It’s time to look ahead to Saturday afternoon! The Johnson Crusaders returned to the practice field to prepare for their next game at Metuchen HS on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. There was a decent student fan section on the visitor side, so I could only imagine how this upcoming Saturday will be.
Sometimes, slow starts can ignite the hungry appetite to get back on the winning track!
