CLARK, NJ- The Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusaders varsity football team took to the field Friday night against the Holmdel High School Hornets, as they began their quest towards a deep run in the state playoffs. On a cold and windy night, the Crusaders running game made a statement in the first part of the game.
With a 20-point outburst in the first half and major defensive pressure, the third-seeded Crusaders defeated the sixth-seeded Hornets by a final score of 34-6 in the NJSIAA Central, Group 2 First Round Friday night in Clark.
It was also the first home state playoff game for Johnson since the 2011 season.
After each team lost a fumble on their opening possession, the Crusaders started their next drive at their own 41-yard line and went right to work on the running game. Senior fullback and co-captain Joe Turek led the way with a huge 48-yard gain into Hornets territory.
He would finish the drive off with a one-yard rushing touchdown and following senior kicker Mike Casalino’s extra point, Johnson took a 7-0 lead with 2:19 left in the first quarter and that would be the score after the first quarter.
He finished the night with 134 yards on 17 carries to go along with his two rushing touchdowns.
“The whole week [at practice], we were just pounding the ball,” Turek said. “We were going to be more physical than them and I thought we did that [for most of] the game. I think we did great the entire game.”
