RAHWAY, NJ- The Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusaders Varsity football team took to the field a few days after a loss in the semifinals of the state tournament, but early struggles in the game followed them throughout the face off with Rahway High School.
The Rahway High School Indians put up 14 quick points in the first four minutes of the game and held the lead throughout the first half. The Crusaders battled back in the second half and continued to keep the game close, but the Indians pulled away by a final score of 21-13 Thursday morning at Rahway River Park.
“In the first half, we were still a little hung over from the semifinals loss,” Johnson head coach Anthony DelConte said. “We were still a little hung over and didn’t snap out of it until the second quarter and unfortunately, they had 14 points on the board and clearly, that makes a difference.”
The Indians struck on the third play of their first drive, when senior Keyshawn Cummings took the ball down the sideline and ran for a 56-yard rushing touchdown to give Rahway the 7-0 lead.
Senior quarterback Mike Bruno was intercepted on the first Crusaders’ drive and on the subsequent Indians drive, they capitalized after great ball movement.
Rahway junior quarterback Jakir Robinson found Cummings for a 19-yard touchdown pass to give Rahway a 14-0 lead with 8:02 left in the first quarter, which would be the score after the first 12 minutes of the game.
In the first quarter, Johnson senior fullback and co-captain Joe Turek officially broke the record for rushing yards on the season, officially surpassing 1,384 rushing yards on the season with a 20-yard rushing play. He received the game ball following the postgame address from the coaches.
He reflected upon the achievement of becoming the all-time leading rusher of Johnson football in a single season in his final high school football game, which he credits his offensive line to the successes he accomplished throughout his career.
“It’s a credit to my offensive line, they’ve blocked great all-year long,” Turek said. “It made it easy for me to run. They’ve played so hard all year. It’s an honor to have the record.”
(Another story to follow on Joe Turek)
Full Coverage of Johnson Crusaders Varsity Football Thanksgiving Day Game at Rahway HS
