CLARK, NJ- The Johnson Crusaders varsity football team defeated the Governor Livingston Highlanders on Senior Night by a final score of 41-6. The game featured a 34-point first half, courtesy of 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 offense for the Crusaders was fueled by senior fullback and co-captain Joe Turek, who got 11 carries for 101 rushing yards, in addition to recording two rushing touchdowns.
Senior Mike Bruno got six carries for 62 rushing yards, including a 33-yard rushing touchdown that opened up the game in the first quarter. Kevin Metz provided a 62-yard rushing touchdown in the win. The defense limited Governor Livingston to only a fourth quarter touchdown.
Here Are Three Things We Learned From the Regular Season Finale Win:
1.) Johnson Crusaders Got Early Jump Needed On Governor Livingston HS
They usually always say to take the other team out as early as you can, especially with how many anticipated the way this game was going to go. Governor Livingston, in general, has a slim roster this year hampered by injuries, including six injured starters.
Johnson got an interception on their first defensive drive and next thing we knew, they got the first score of the game, less than two minutes in, courtesy of Joe Turek’s 42-yard rushing touchdown.
It wasn’t even four minutes in with Governor Livingston punting for the second time on the evening, enough to show you their offense was basically another sign of the struggles that plagued them the past few weeks. Johnson started their next drive at midfield and immediately took it to the end zone in a four-minute duration, as junior Vito Galluzzo took it in, a nine-yard rushing touchdown to make it a 14-0 Crusaders lead.
The first play of a Johnson following another Highlanders punt, it took just one play and senior quarterback Mike Bruno was off to the races for a 33-yard rushing touchdown to make the score 21-0 Johnson, the score after the first quarter. Turek and Kevin Metz supplied two more touchdowns on the half (Turek: four-yard rushing touchdown, while Metz: 62-yard rushing touchdown).
That along was the best feature of the first half, especially with it being Senior Night, you’d always want to get the win and feel good going into halftime against an opponent that wasn’t really playing up to speed as the entire regular season went along. While there was one touchdown scored by Johnson with the starters pulled the shutout bid gone in the fourth quarter, what matters is the early jump, going up 34-0 at halftime, a task that Johnson achieved.
2.) Shutting Down The Highlanders Was An Excellent Send-Off to the Regular Season
There isn’t really to much to write about here from a game analytic standpoint, but one major note about the regular season finale. Governor Livingston is a rival of Johnson, something that I’ve personally come to believe, especially since that rivalry idea with Cranford isn’t really there that much. The Crusaders needed to get the job complete because it was a big night for the seniors and you always want to see the wins against the rivals come in the best offensive performances and that is what Johnson did.
They finished the regular season with a 7-1 record, not at all an easy task to complete for a high school football team, but that it a huge credit to the guys for coming together and taking care of business.
Regular season success always sets the tone for a playoff push and the Johnson Crusaders have set the tone from a successful regular season, as they prepare for what lays ahead in the playoffs.
3.) Playoff Time, Now It’s Go Time!
Head coach Anthony DelConte said it perfectly when asked following the game what the main message is for his players now that the regular season is in the books and now the preparation, both in the weight room, conditioning and on the practice field for the first round of the NJSIAA Central, Group 2 state playoffs.
“Everybody in our section is tough [and] are good football teams, but so are we,” DelConte said. “Our guys are ready to roll and I know we can bring it. I know these guys are going to be ready to take it to the next level and whoever it is, we’ll be ready.”
With the way the PowerPoints are situated, the Johnson Crusaders will have a home state playoff game on Friday, November 10, the first time they are hosting a state playoff game since 2011.
Johnson worked so hard all regular season and with the PowerPoint system lining up, they were able to get the points to get the home game, especially with wins against tough competition during the season.
The Crusaders have made the playoffs in all of Anthony DelConte’s years at the helm of the Crusaders. This especially means a good week of practice is hugely important, if they want to keep the games coming for the rest of the season.
What’s Next?
Johnson remains home for the NJSIAA Central, Group 2 First Round, where the third-seeded Crusaders will take on sixth-seeded Holmdel HS on Friday, November 10 at 7:00 p.m.
The Hornets, who finished their regular season with a 5-3 record, won their season opener at Brearley HS by a final score of 17-12.
They lost Week 2 to Monmouth HS by a final score of 14-3. They won Week 3 at Spotswood HS by a final score of 45-7. They lost their home opener to Rumson-Fair Haven HS by a final score of 40-24.
They beat Red Bank Regional in Week 5 by a final score of 21-0, before losing Week 6 to St. John Vianney by a final score of 38-3.
After a double bye week, they defeated Matawan HS this past week by a final score of 28-0.
Holmdel is led by quarterback Jeff DeCicco. On the season, DeCicco is 13-for-22 with 237 passing yards and one passing touchdown with one interception.
Mack Byrn is a major target on the Hornets passing team, while Dean Gallo, Cameron Lamountain and DeCicco lead the way for Holmdel on the rushing game.
If the Johnson Crusaders continue to play the way they have been in their victories, 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 on Friday night.
Holmdel is a football program that’s always been good in years past, especially in the past few years, so we will see what develops Friday night. Especially with both teams going head-to-head in the NJSIAA Central, Group 2 state tournament.
