CLARK, NJ- The Johnson Crusaders varsity football team defeated the Delaware Valley Terriers on the road by a final score of 49-21. The game featured a strong outburst on the ground game, courtesy of the Crusaders running game that helped Johnson take major control and come through with the win. The offensive line provided all the protection and space needed to complete the running plays and the defense forced three turnovers.
It is also the first time since 2006 that Johnson has started the season off with a 4-0 record.
The offense was fueled by senior fullback and co-captain Joe Turek, who got 18 carries for 168 rushing yards, in addition, to recording a two-yard rushing touchdown to open the scoring with 8:28 left in the first quarter. Senior quarterback Mike Bruno got 13 carries for 73 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown pass to senior Lorenzo De Paz that made the score 35-7 with 4:17 left in the third quarter. In addition, he threw a 25-yard pass to senior Andrew Giamella earlier on, setting up junior Sebastian Iakouchevitch’s one-yard rushing touchdown that made the score 21-0 Johnson with 10:35 left in the second quarter.
The defense pounced on Delaware Valley, slowing them down in the first half and forcing three turnovers, including a lost fumble, an interception and a turnover on downs. Also, limiting them to two touchdowns in the air, both in the fourth quarter, with the game already out of reach, not allowing major in the running game, only allowing one touchdown on the ground in the first half, shutting down the runners known to do damage.
Here Are Three Things We Learned From the Road Win:
1.) The Running Game Powered the Crusaders on Offense
The Johnson running game went up against a physical Delaware Valley defense and as they have been all year. continue to be the workhorse that powers the offense as a whole. In the 49-21 win over Delaware Valley, the Johnson running game overwhelmed the Terriers for 575 yards on 56 carries. On the game, Johnson used the running game to slowly dissolve time from the clock and set up the touchdowns they scored on the night.
It was fueled by senior fullback and co-captain Joe Turek, who ran for 168 yards on 18 carries, along with two rushing touchdowns (two yards and 63 yards).
The Crusaders also took advantage of a short punt, followed by a bad snap almost over the head of the Delaware Valley punter, starting at the Delaware Valley 40-yard line. They went at the Delaware Valley defense with short running plays and finished the drive with a 13-yard rushing touchdown from senior Brandon Rapp that made the score 14-0 Johnson. He finished the night with 83 yards on three carries. The Johnson offensive line featuring sophomore Patrick Brennan, senior Dan Olenick, junior Luke Giltner, seniors James Greenbush and Eddie Weingartner and junior Rico Veltre provide the running game for the explosiveness on the field, allowing it to happen.
Another drive was set up by a lost fumble by the Terriers (see more about turnovers in #2) and Johnson wasted no time getting the offense back to work. While the 25-yard pass to Andrew Giamella was the major highlight on this drive.
Senior quarterback Mike Bruno ran the ball 13 times for 73 yards, including two major pass completions in this game. He connected for a 25-yard pass to senior Andrew Giamella that would set up junior Sebastian Iakouchevitch’s one-yard rushing touchdown that made the game 21-0 Johnson.
The next major completion came on a fourth down play, as Bruno heaved it downfield for a 27-yard touchdown pass to senior Lorenzo De Paz, who caught and secured the football before fighting his way to the end zone to make the game 35-7. The plays were completed right along with the center part of the field and it worked out for the Crusaders.
Turek added his second touchdown and senior Mike Casalino, the team’s kicker, added a 37-yard rushing touchdown to an already impressive start to the season.
2.) The Defense Shut Down the Terriers Offense and Created Turnovers
As this week of practice began, Johnson’s main focus was to slow down the physical Delaware Valley offensive line, as the Terriers are known for their long rushes and players who could make big catches at various spots of the field.
Under new defensive coordinator Chris Di Nucci and his game plan that he preached to his players all week, the Crusaders rose to the occasion and made plays of their own.
In the first quarter, with Johnson already ahead 7-0, they rushed the Delaware Valley punter after a bad snap, forcing him to kick it away quickly, ending up as a short punt that would subsequently lead to Rapp’s 13-yard rushing touchdown. In the team’s next drive, the plays kept coming.
Following a running play, set up by Delaware Valley senior quarterback Jared Pershyn, the ball suddenly came loose and everyone was yelling for the ball and Johnson recovered it, giving them more great field position, at the Terriers 38-yard line and already up by two touchdowns.
As the second quarter started following that play, the Johnson defense making those plays allowed the offense to make the plays, take risks and cash in on red zone opportunities. In return, it allowed the defense to play a little looser and not have so much pressure in a potential closer game.
As the Terriers took the field on offense, they weren’t able to get any ball movement on the ground and the passes weren’t connecting. Although Delaware Valley managed to get the best movement on the ground, the defense made another big play.
Senior Kevin Metz intercepted Pershyn’s pass and returned it to the Terriers 40-yard line and already in the driver’s seat as the first half came to an end. Despite letting up a touchdown, Johnson was in control at halftime, leading Delaware Valley by a score of 28-7.
As the second half started, the defense continued its dominance of the Terriers, forcing the third turnover of the game late in the third quarter, when Delaware Valley couldn’t convert on fourth down, giving the ball back to the Crusaders offense. Delaware Valley got two touchdowns through the air in the fourth quarter, with the game already out of reach.
3.) Second Major Test for Johnson, Everybody Did Their Jobs to Lead to a Win
Following wins over rebuilding programs such as New Providence and Bernards, along with a first test in Roselle-Abraham Clark, Delaware Valley presented another challenge for the Crusaders, especially in terms of physicality and playmakers.
The Johnson defense continued fighting and pushing harder than ever before and it caused Delaware Valley to not be on the attack as much on the running game, which was powered by senior quarterback Jared Pershyn and junior Tyler Neal. The defense slowed down Neal, who had 496 rushing yards coming into the Week 4 matchup.
They also slowed down their passing plays, keeping Pershyn from completing anything major until he recorded two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, with the game over at that point and with the running clock.
Defensive coordinator Chris Di Nucci said it perfectly following the win, saying the players were working hard at practice in the days leading up to the game against Roselle and beating them and sticking to the game plan for the Delaware Valley game and all the hard work paid off on the defensive side, especially with the three forced turnovers.
The style of defense that he’s preached to his players has really paid off and it’s shown throughout the season as a whole, with more to come and quite sure no one is going to remain satisfied, as head coach Anthony DelConte and other players have said, “This is not our highlight game,” indicating they want more as the season rolls along.
“It helps when your offense is moving the ball and putting points on the board and taking some pressure off the defense to be able to play a little looser,” Johnson assistant coach Chris Di Nucci said. “That helps us to lead to some turnovers as well.”
What’s Next?
Johnson returns home to play Hillside HS on Friday, October 6 in the UNICO Bowl at 7:00 p.m.
The Comets lost their home opener against Rahway HS by a final score of 35-21. They defeated New Providence HS on the road in Week 2 by a final score of 42-7. They returned home and defeated Bernards HS by a final score of 42-0 in Week 3.
They won this past week against Roselle-Abraham Clark HS at Rahway River Park by a final score of 14-12.
Hillside is led by quarterback Tajie Irby, who is 31-for-43 on the season with 755 passing yards and six touchdown passes and one interception.
Other players on Hillside for Johnson to watch on Friday night include receivers Boris Nicolas-Paul and Nahree Biggins, who are major targets on the passing game, while Brian Ugwu and James Louis lead the way for Hillside on the rushing game.
If the Johnson Crusaders continue to play the way they’ve always been playing, hard, fast, physical and going at the football and charging through other team’s defenses on offense and drawing up good game plans, they will compete on Friday night.
The way the Johnson defense fought hard against Delaware Valley, playing hard, fast, physical and going at the football and charging through other team’s defenses on offense, limiting all mistakes, playing a clean, physical game and drawing up good game plans, they will compete Friday night.
Hillside is a football program that’s always been good in years past, an improved team from last year, so we will see what develops Friday night.
