CLARK, NJ- I remember going to see a few Johnson Crusaders varsity football practices over the summer and see how the guys were doing throughout the summer and sort of felt it was in the early stages of summer, right before anything major starts, so I was looking forward to the start of the season, including how the coaches were going to do with the guys.
It never really hit me that the season was right around the corner until the practices began at the beginning of August and the scrimmages were in full swing.
The 2017 seniors were a really great group of kids, some I had known since 2015, others, I had gotten to know a little more during the 2016 season, but these were kids that had seen a little more time, those who needed to fill in the shoes of the 2016 seniors, who really left their mark.
The Seniors:
#1- Lorenzo De Paz
#6- Jordan Fedak
#8- Mike Bruno
#22- Mike Casalino
#23- Kevin Metz
#26- Brandon Rapp
#28- Joe Turek (C)
#50- Joe Santangelo
#52- Eddie Weingartner
#75- James Greenbush
#77- Dan Olenick
#80- Andrew Giamella
#85- Ryan Spallone
#88- Tommy Bowen (C)
#1- Lorenzo De Paz
Lorenzo was a good guy who I sort of knew mostly from baseball and I saw a lot of good things he did on the football field. He was a jokester, but a great dude to be around. He was good on defense, mostly what stands out to me, getting the two interceptions in his final high school football game.
His touchdown grab against Delaware Valley, he went all out in grabbing that pass from Mike Bruno, I’m not sure how he managed to fight off the defender, make a ridiculous-looking catch, at least from my vantage point and fight his way to get the football to the end zone. That was a 27-yard touchdown pass and a gutsy and risky call, but it shows how much they wanted the points in the game.
That was a play that looked like was out of the book of tricks, catching Delaware Valley by surprise, especially on the fourth down play. We had been in control, so it was awesome watching every play they pulled off, follow through and come into play.
He was also gritty on the defense, one interception, two fumble recoveries and 39 tackles to go along with the big plays he made on offense.
#6- Jordan Fedak
Jordan Fedak was one of the many weapons Johnson had on offense whenever they needed to turn to someone who the other teams hadn’t been covering.
He was great on the catches made in the North Plainfield game, especially the 41-yard touchdown catch from Mike Bruno when it was the onside kick party for the visiting Crusaders when they took control of the game in the second half on October 27.
I hadn’t seen too many passes from Johnson, that play showed how they were willing to take risks to secure more points and throw something at North Plainfield they hadn’t been prepared to set up for. He put it perfectly when the team struggled in the first half, but responded to take full control and walk away with the win. He also had a huge interception that stopped North Plainfield on a fourth quarter drive.
“We realized at pregame and coming into halftime, we needed to be more physical and we know we’re the better team. We had to prove it,” Fedak said following the win on October 27. “So, we came out in the second half, [playing] fast, physical and tough and we got the win.”
Whenever you needed someone outside the usual offensive weapons to step it up in those moments, Jordan Fedak was one to turn to. I thought the North Plainfield game brought out the best in him and he was a great kid to be around and cover.
#8- Mike Bruno
Mike Bruno was one of the greatest quarterbacks I’ve seen lead an offense day-in and day-out. I watched him at times over the summer and noticed he was really looking better and better as the repetitions of the plays took place at practice. I also got to know his parents a little but better, since they knew a lifelong friend of mine, so it was good all-around.
It really didn’t take him too long to show he meant business in the home opener, running it in for a 20-yard strike on the ground that started the overwhelming assault on offense for the Crusaders. He was always one who always said to me after the games that they always stick together and stick to the plan.
Overall, he posted numbers on offense that included 630 rushing yards on 87 carries and recorded five rushing touchdowns.
The Delaware Valley game was one I remember as well, Bruno throwing to convert on two fourth-down plays, especially the long pass to Andrew Giamella that step up a touchdown and converting another one with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Lorenzo De Paz. He also ran for a touchdown on another fourth-down conversion, showing this kid wouldn’t fight until he did what he had to do to help the team for the win.
His best game, in my honest opinion, hands-down, was the North Plainfield game, throwing for two touchdowns (3-for-4, 106 passing yards, 2 TD passes) and rushing for another one (14-yard rushing touchdown), with the touchdown passes going to Jordan Fedak and Mike Casalino.
He was named the Week 8 Jersey Sports Zone Mid-State 38 Player of the Week and I won’t forget being up late at night, just voting a good number of times to help keep the lead he maintained as the deadline for voting approached. He threw a ten-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Metz in his final high school football game, no better way than to finish off a great season than that.
#22- Mike Casalino
Here’s one player I saw fill in some shoes as a kicker when he was only a sophomore, Mike Casalino, who was a great kid and competitor. He also showed he was not only a great kicker, but one who could run the plays and make the huge plays on defense.
Courtesy of Mr. Casalino, he was a three-year starter as a kicker and overall, put up massive amounts of numbers I’ve never seen from a kicker, except on maybe one or two instances of following high school football.
His first major presence on defense, recording an interception at Bernards, with his team already up 24-7, keeping any momentum Bernards may have gained and keeping them off the field as the Crusaders maintained full control as the game went along.
He hauled in a 37-yard pass from Mike Bruno and took that in for the touchdown in a 49-21 overwhelming win over Delaware Valley. I remember recording on video, his six-yard rushing touchdown in the win over Hillside that clinched the conference championship for Johnson.
He was the one in the clutch moments against North Plainfield, pulling off two straight onside kicks that allowed the Johnson offense to take control as the second half rolled along. He told me it was something they’ve always practiced, but not something to expect to happen and from the bleachers, I’m not sure if anyone even expected it to happen.
“Every day, we do special teams in practice,” Casalino said. “We work on kickoffs and [onside] kicks just like that. It translates right into the field.”
He gave his team a chance to win and they did. I also remember, while trying to not freeze during the Holmdel game, his interception that one of many plays that allowed Johnson to take control of the game in the first half. He also gave his team a chance in the semifinals game on two occasions in the fourth quarter.
Mike was a team player and everything he did on the field, other plays are going to have to fill in his shoes in later years of the program.
Overall, he had 102 career points in football, including nine field goals made in a row, 14 touchbacks on kickoffs, with ten of them coming in the 2017 season, including nine successful onside kicks on his career. He made 40 extra points in the 2017 season, including five field goals. On defense, he made 53 tackles, recorded two interceptions, forcing one fumble and breaking up multiple passes.
#23- Kevin Metz
Kevin Metz was one of those players you see really excelled on the football field. He was a gritty, physical player who always found himself in the key situations when they mattered the most.
I saw him play in baseball, so I knew he was one who gave everything he could in either an at-bat, or on a drive on the field where he either had the ball or had to make a huge tackle or interception while on the defense.
I remember the home game against Roselle in 2015, when he had the game-clinching interception that more or less, sealed a 23-14 win that kept Johnson towards getting their season back on track.
The Week 3 game against Roselle had him grind through a tough Roselle defense that I remember the place getting so loud and he only fired up everybody even more with a five-yard rushing touchdown that gave Johnson the lead for good at 16-13. They would win the game by a final score of 23-13, adding a huge conference win for the Crusaders.
He was also part of an overwhelming performance on the defense, hauling in an interception that allowed the Crusaders offense and offensive line to go back to work to build the lead they did prior to halftime.
Against Hillside in Week 5, he came up with a clutch interception early on in the fourth quarter, leading to a drive where Johnson drained down the clock and recorded an insurance touchdown that secured a 22-13 win that won the UNICO Bowl and the Mid-State 38 Valley Division Conference Championship for Johnson, the first one since the 2006 season.
He also lit it up on the ground on Senior Night with a 62-yard rushing touchdown and in the first round of the NJSIAA Central, Group 2 state playoffs with an eight-yard rushing touchdown that gave Johnson a 13-0 lead. It’s the victories like that, which one remembers the most when looking back at high school years.
His final touchdown of his high school football career, a 12-yard catch from senior quarterback Mike Bruno that got Johnson on the board on Thanksgiving Day.
Overall, he finished his career with 436 rushing yards on 37 carries, four rushing touchdowns, his 12-yard receiving touchdown. On defense, he made one sack, recovered one fumble and hauled in seven interceptions.
#26- Brandon Rapp
Brandon Rapp was another player who gave everything he had to in games where key players needed to come up in the clutch.
The 2015 Thanksgiving Day game at Veterans Field, I remember his goal line interception during his sophomore year with less than a minute to go that basically sealed a Johnson win that finished their season with a 7-4 record.
He recorded a 54-yard rushing touchdown that contributed to a 38-7 win over Bernards in Week 2, a rival that Johnson aimed to take down, especially with Bernards being the sectional runner-up in the 2016 season.
His senior year brought out the best in him on the ground and on the defense. The Week 3 game against Roselle, which everyone on Johnson saw as a revenge game, had him step up in key areas on the night.
He hauled in a 25-yard pass from senior quarterback Mike Bruno for a touchdown to get Johnson on the board (I couldn’t see how amazing he made the play and got to the end zone).
He also hauled in an interception that set up the drive to lead to the Kevin Metz touchdown that gave Johnson a 16-13 lead.
Rapp also struck against Delaware Valley with a 13-yard rushing touchdown that contributed to an offensive outburst in a win.
His touchdown against Holmdel was great, to watch him take the pitch and finish off the drive that helped the Crusaders towards a 34-6 win over Holmdel.
I’ll always remember the in-game talks with his dad, Jim, during the games where he and the team excelled in all-season long.
#28- Joe Turek (C)
There is a lot I can write about Joe Turek, but I’ll try my best to keep it as short as possible (but no promises). I really saw what Joe could really do with damage on the ground with the 2015 game at Somerville, when a starter went down and was out for the season. Joe pounded Somerville on the ground for 270 rushing yards on 24 carries for three rushing touchdowns.
When the playoffs began, I saw something I hadn’t seen in my years of managing nor reporting on the Johnson football team. They pounded New Providence 40-6 for the program’s first playoff win since 2008, putting them up against top-seeded Lincoln (ranked No. 14 on NJ.com at the time). Turek was a absolute monster on the ground. He cut Johnson’s deficit to 12-7 with a rushing touchdown and they only trailed 20-13 at halftime.
On a fourth-down-and-1 play where it could’ve been the end for Johnson, I remember Joey turning on the jets for a 50-yard gain inside Lincoln territory and him fighting to tie the game at 20-20. He gave Johnson a 26-20 lead and gave an alert for an “Upset Alert.” While Johnson came up short and lost 40-26, I knew there was a really gritty kid in Joe Turek for Johnson. He ran the ball 39 times for 207 yards and three rushing touchdowns.
The 2015 Thanksgiving Day game also brought out the best of the sophomore. He ran for two touchdowns, including the game-winner with 5:18 left to give Johnson a 21-17 win. Overall, he finished with 975 rushing yards on 175 carries, with 14 rushing touchdowns.
He was all over the place in his junior year, achieving the 1,000-yard career mark in a Week 2 victory over Bernards, a 43-14 win for the Crusaders. I remember typing out a list of questions the next day and getting right to work on it. He was a stand-up guy who credited his offensive line for all his successes achieved.
He only got better his junior year, finishing with 1,045 rushing yards on 160 carries, to go along with 18 rushing touchdowns, something I don’t believe I’ve ever seen out of anyone on the running game at Johnson.
He was named co-captain and only did everything he’s done in his first two years, just at an entirely new level. He ran for three touchdowns in the home opener against New Providence, a 41-3 win for Johnson. He ran for 175 yards on 14 carries to go along with his three rushing touchdowns.
The game against Roselle, Joe was one of many key pieces in that game, throwing the knockout punch to the Rams with a three-yard touchdown, a game where he gobbled up 183 yards on 30 carries, along with the insurance touchdown.
He was also clutch in the Hillside game, giving his team a 12-7 lead in a game that captured the first conference championship for the Crusaders since the 2006 season. An accolade that him and the guys will always remember.
He had a touchdown in just about every game except the Somerville game and the semifinals game.
He became the all-time leader in Johnson football with rushing yards, securing the milestone with a 22-yard rush in the first quarter, capping off an incredible high school football career.
In total, Joe finished his senior year with 1,620 rushing yards on 207 carries, to go along with 18 rushing touchdowns.
He finished his career with 3,640 rushing yards on 554 carries, 48 rushing touchdowns, 230 tackles, two fumble recoveries, six caused fumbles and two interceptions.
The endless talks with his dad, Bob, usually 3-4 times a week, sharing ideas on the preview posts and the 3 Things to Know, talking about life, PowerPoints, what we have next and everything in between made those weeks leading up to games another great part I’ll miss about watching Joe play.
#50- Joe Santangelo
Joe Santangelo was another player who was key to Johnson leadership. He gave everything he could week after week and was a great kid to talk to, share thoughts on the season and upcoming games and everything in-between that you like out of football players.
He had one sack in the North Plainfield game and had six tackles on the 2017 season. He was a leader and will be one of many guys who the program and the underclassmen will miss when later years in the program roll around.
#52- Eddie Weingartner
Eddie Weingartner was part of a crucial group in the game of football that take a lot of physicality in, in order for the running game to be successful in the offensive line. I hadn’t been sure how to incorporate the offensive line into the stories, since unfortunately, the offensive line only gets mentioned when things get bad.
However, Weingartner was a force for the Crusaders when needing to fight against physical defensive fronts. The Johnson running game, in total, 4,220 rushing yards on 497 carries to go along with 40 rushing touchdowns on the season.
The kids worked well together and were coached up by assistant coach Andrew Zub and did as great a job as one group could possibly do on one season.
#75- James Greenbush
James Greenbush was another integral player on the offensive line, carving up defensive fronts and allowing the running game and offense to achieve everything that they did. He was a good kid who did everything needed during a game to allow the Crusaders to have a chance to win a game.
I have to give credit to the guys for putting up with all the soreness and rough times during the games where they pretty much have to really fight to prevent loss of yardage on plays to take place throughout the season.
#77- Dan Olenick
I got to know Dan a little bit since I graduated with his older brother Eddie. I saw similarities in the way of the physicality and play from Eddie and Dan, so I knew Dan was going to give everything he could like his brother did.
These shoes are going to be tough to fill in of the offensive linemen graduating, since the extra guys will be needed to slow down the defense and be able to achieve everything that had been achieved in seasons past.
#80- Andrew Giamella
Andrew Giamella was the kind of player who made a key play here and there when other teams are zeroed in on certain players.
I remember his 35-yard reception that moved Johnson closer to the end zone in the road game at Delaware Valley. It set up a touchdown run from Sebastian Iakouchevitch, a tough call to make, but a play that was made by the Crusaders to achieve what they did that night.
Although there wasn’t so much major things on the offensive side, Giamella was another key piece of a senior class that led the Crusaders every step of the way.
#85- Ryan Spallone
Ryan Spallone was a great teammate who always cheered on his teammates when not in an easy spot. An injury kept him from taking the field with his teammates, one I felt bad for him. He was all for his teammates and the coaches and hoping the guys would come through in the big moments when everything was on the line.
I commend Ryan for setting an example for the younger players about you are still part of a team, although injuries sideline you from playing the sport with guys you’ve played with since you were young!
I hope to see him light it up on the mound when the baseball season starts.
#88- Tommy Bowen (C)
Tommy Bowen was one who was always a physical player to deal with. I had known his parents a little bit before basketball, seeing them at the girls basketball games.
Once I saw he was named a co-captain, I knew everything was coming real with the season starting. There might not have been a lot of offense produced by Tommy, but it’s also the blocking and being physical that also counts, especially with the triple option.
He was always a cool guy with me and made a lot of the plays for the touchdowns possible with everything he put into each game and practice. His parents and grandparents were great people, getting to know them and talk to them in the stands during games were great.
He led the team greatly with Joe Turek and the rest of the senior class this past season, a group that future senior classes will need to fill in the shoes of when the preparation for future seasons gets into full gear.
Here’s a quick recap of the schedule:
Week 1: Johnson 41, New Providence 3 (September 8)
Once the summer practices and scrimmages were all over, Johnson took to the field in their home opener in Nolan Field against the New Providence Pioneers, led by first-year head coach Chet Parlavecchio, Jr., the defensive coordinator in Delbarton prior to coming to New Providence.
The Crusaders made a blunder on the opening kickoff, with junior Vito Galluzzo losing the football and New Providence recovering at the Johnson 20-yard line, but the defense held the offense at bay, holding the Pioneers to a 30-yard field goal from senior Patrick Trezza.
It didn’t take long for Johnson to answer, as senior quarterback Mike Bruno (three carries, 26 rushing yards, 20-yard rushing touchdown) found an opening at the left side of the field, taking it in for a 20-yard rushing touchdown to put Johnson ahead 7-3. Two field goals from senior kicker Mike Casalino put Johnson ahead 13-3 at halftime.
For New Providence, offensive production was not evident. Sophomore quarterback Owen Kovacs, taking over for Jack Barletta, Jr., who transferred to the Hun School in Princeton, New Jersey, was hounded by the Crusaders defense all second half.
Turek’s three touchdowns (13 yards, eight yards, two yards) all came in the second half (14 carries, 175 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns), along with a 39-yard rushing touchdown from junior Sebastian Iakouchevitch as Johnson overwhelmed New Providence in the end.
Week 2: Johnson 38, Bernards 7 (September 15)
A sense of rivalry seemed to be established between the Johnson Crusaders and the Bernards Mountaineers over the past few years. Bernards won meetings in 2014 and 2015, while Johnson powered past them in their 2016 home opener by a final score of 43-14.
The Crusaders hit the road for the first time in the 2017 season to take on the NJSIAA Central, Group 2 sectional runner-up from last year. Bernards, having lost to Manasquan in the 2016 NJSIAA Central, Group 2 state title game by a final score of 42-6, lost several key players and talent to graduation and the Crusaders came ready to play the minute they stepped on the field.
On the offensive side, Johnson burst out to an early lead. On the first drive of the game, the Crusaders embarked on a drive down the field that ended with Joe Turek’s one yard rushing touchdown and following senior kicker Mike Casalino’s extra point, the Crusaders led 7-0 and following a three-and-out by the defense, they got the ball back and got a 33-yard field goal from Casalino, making the game 10-0 Johnson after the first quarter.
The Johnson defense came ready to play against a youthful Bernards squad. They hauled in three interceptions on the evening. With the Mountaineers trying to get something going, senior quarterback Lofton Hoover heaved a deep pass, only to get intercepted by Turek. Defense turned into offense for Johnson, as junior Sebastian Iakouchevitch went up the field for an 80-yard rushing touchdown, the first play following the interception, as the lead became 17-0 Johnson.
Following a Bernards touchdown, senior Brandon Rapp got a score right back for Johnson, a 40-yard rushing touchdown to make it 24-7 Johnson at halftime. Turek and Mike Bruno (seven carries, 60 yards, one rushing touchdown) added touchdown rushes in the second half, while Casalino and Jordan Fedak had an interception each as Johnson rolled past Bernards by the final score of 38-7.
Week 3: Johnson 23, Roselle 13 (September 22)
The 2016 matchup between the two teams featured 97 total points and Roselle-Abraham Clark HS winning by the final score of 56-41, a loss that featured three Crusaders turnovers that led to 21 points for the Rams. The Crusaders were facing their first major test on the schedule and that night, they lived up to the challenge.
Senior quarterback Mike Bruno (ten carries, 122 rushing yards) led a Crusaders drive, rushing into Roselle territory and ending the drive with a surprise 25-yard touchdown pass to senior Brandon Rapp to open the scoring, giving Johnson the 7-0 lead, but Roselle immediately would answer on the ensuing drive.
Senior wide receiver Nasir Cherry sped right through the Crusaders setup on special teams and got deep into Johnson territory. The drive ended with a ten-yard rushing touchdown from senior Craig McRae and the extra point tied the game 7-7.
Senior kicker Mike Casalino added a 30-yard field goal to give Johnson a 10-7 lead after the first quarter. The Rams would answer with a six-yard rushing touchdown from junior Khair Pendleton and the extra point was blocked, to take a 13-10 lead, the score at halftime.
Most of the third quarter featured a back-and-forth contest on defense between the two teams.
The Johnson defense kept them in the game and came up with a huge play to shift momentum. Near the end of the third quarter, Roselle junior quarterback Qurann Dixon threw a long pass, but was intercepted by Rapp, as the Crusaders went into the fourth quarter with momentum by their side and having possession of the football.
On that Crusaders drive, senior Kevin Metz scored the go-ahead touchdown, a five-yard rushing touchdown to give Johnson a 16-13 lead with 8:47 left in the fourth quarter. He fueled that drive with a 20-yard rush to get Johnson deep within Roselle territory. The defense returned the favor as the Rams took the field.
Facing 4th-and-1, the Rams attempted to go for the fourth-down conversion, but a false start penalty backed them up five yards and they punted the football away instead. Johnson put the game away with a long drive to milk almost six minutes off the clock and Joe Turek (30 carries, 183 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown) finishing the night with a five-yard rushing touchdown to put Johnson ahead 23-13, sealing the deal.
They handed Roselle-Abraham Clark HS their first regular season loss since October 24, 2015 when they faced David Brearley HS (Kenilworth).
Week 4: Johnson 49, Delaware Valley 21 (September 29)
The next game took the Johnson Crusaders deep into Hunterdon County, looking to continue their hot start to the 2017 season against another conference opponent, the Delaware Valley Terriers.
Johnson got the ball first and immediately went right to work. On the first drive, which featured eight plays and 77 yards, senior Kevin Metz fueled the team with a 35-yard rush into Delaware Valley territory (three rushes, 56 yards). Joe Turek finished off the drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown to put Johnson ahead 7-0.
The next story line for the home team featured a lot of struggles and mistakes. The Terriers offense stalled and had to punt. The snap went over the punter’s head and it was kicked away, but it was a very short kick giving Johnson great field positioning at the Terriers 40-yard line. Senior Brandon Rapp finished it off with a 13-yard rushing touchdown to give Johnson a 14-0 lead.
The Johnson defense continued to dominate and after the ball came loose, they recovered it deep in Delaware Valley territory, at the 38-yard line right near the end of the first quarter. On that drive, senior quarterback Mike Bruno, a major leader for the team on offense, pulled a surprise play, heaving the ball to senior Andrew Giamella for a 35-yard reception to get to the Terriers eight-yard line, setting up junior Sebastian Iakouchevitch’s one-yard rushing touchdown to make it a 21-0 Johnson lead.
The next Terriers drive featured another turnover, as senior quarterback Jared Pershyn hauled the ball deep down the field, only to be intercepted by senior Kevin Metz. Following a drive that started at the Delaware Valley 40-yard line, Bruno finished the drive with a three-yard rushing touchdown on a fourth-down conversion to make the game 28-0 with Johnson in full control.
The Terriers got a touchdown in right before the half, cutting the Johnson lead to 28-7, the score at halftime.
As the second half started, the Johnson offense picked it up right where they left off. Facing 4th-and-6 and following a penalty, Bruno hauled the ball deep and senior Lorenzo De Paz caught it and fought into the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown reception to make the score 35-7 Johnson.
Following Delaware Valley’s third turnover of the game, Turek (18 carries, 168 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns) put the exclamation point on the Terriers with a 63-yard rushing touchdown to make the game 42-7 Johnson after the third quarter and with a running clock.
Senior Mike Casalino added a 37-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, while Delaware Valley added two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, as Johnson moved on the verge of taking the conference championship.
In addition to the touchdown, Casalino went 7-for-7 on extra points, surpassing all his totals from the 2016 season.
Week 5: Johnson 22, Hillside 13 (October 6)
The Johnson Crusaders remembered the bitter memories of letting the 2016 UNICO Bowl slip away, but were determined to not let that happen again, as they began practice and would reach game day. The trophy was on the line, of who would keep it until the next series started between the two teams.
On the evening, they started the drive with the football and had a daunting task on hands, when they went up against a physical Hillside defensive front. They broke through on their first drive with multiple rushing plays to keep the drive alive and capitalized with a five-yard rushing touchdown from senior Mike Casalino to put Johnson ahead 6-0, the score after the first quarter.
Despite Hillside striking back to take the 7-6 lead, the Crusaders started in Comets territory and would fight back to take the lead. They went 44 yards and it was capped off by an 11-yard rushing touchdown from Joe Turek, as Johnson took back the lead, 12-7.
Hillside responded with a drive of their own, but they had missed opportunities because of mistakes made. Sophomore Nahree Biggins had a 35-yard rush to get to the Johnson one-yard line, but a holding penalty cancelled out the play. Three plays later, senior quarterback Tajae Irby threw a pass that was tipped off a helmet and secured by junior Sebastian Iakouchevitch. He took it to the Hillside 25-yard line and suddenly gave his team a chance to add more points.
After a few rushing plays by the Crusaders, the Comets’ lack of discipline continued costing them. A facemask penalty at the Johnson 24-yard line gave Johnson an automatic first down and moved them half the distance to the goal line. While a touchdown did not happen, Casalino came through again for his team, a 34-yard field goal to put Johnson ahead 15-7 at halftime.
The Comets struck back as the second half started, when they cashed in for a touchdown, but the next moment on the attempted two-point conversion would stand out. As Hillside came close to potentially tying the game, a jarring hit from the Crusaders defense kept the Comets out of the end zone and lead intact at 15-13. The teams would not post any points in the third quarter and the score remained 15-13 Johnson after the third quarter.
As the fourth quarter started, Johnson wasn’t able to get an offensive drive going and punted the ball away inside the Comets ten-yard line to their four-yard line and they began that drive. They set up, but Irby’s pass on the first play on the drive was intercepted by Kevin Metz with 10:56 left to go in the fourth quarter.
Johnson got the ball back and used the clock to their advantage with the lead. With Turek (26 carries, 155 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown) and Metz leading the way, senior Brandon Rapp finished the drive with a five-yard rushing touchdown to put Johnson ahead 22-13 with 6:44 left in the fourth quarter.
On the next Hillside drive, the Johnson student was the loudest that I can personally recall and they only got louder as the Crusaders stopped the Comets on that drive, forcing them to punt and they ran out the clock.
They won the 2017 UNICO Bowl and are the 2017 Mid-State 38 Valley Division Conference Champions. It is the first time since 2006 that Johnson won a conference championship.
Week 6: Bye Week
Week 7: Somerville 33, Johnson 7 (October 20)
There was a lot on the line with these two teams meeting. The Somerville Pioneers were 5-1, while the Johnson Crusaders were 5-0 and coming off their bye week, putting two powerhouse programs on the field for a fantastic meeting between the teams.
The start of the game wasn’t the greatest and Somerville showed why they play at an entirely different level. They led Johnson 14-0 after the first quarter and took a 20-0 lead into halftime. For Johnson, senior quarterback Mike Bruno struggled on the offensive side of the ball, throwing three interceptions into a Somerville defense that seemed to only get better as the game went along.
Senior Brandon Rapp supplied the only offense for the Crusaders on the night, with a third quarter touchdown that cut the lead to 20-7. Although there were instances of the game where it really got out of hand, this was one game and it seemed to me it was better to lose this game than to risk a key player or two get injured. Although Johnson fell to 5-1 on the season, the next task on hands was to finish the regular season and get to the state playoffs on a high note.
Week 8: Johnson 41, North Plainfield 20 (October 27)
A sluggish first half which featured Johnson scoring the first 14 points and then North Plainfield returning the favor with 14 points of their own to tie the game. Things didn’t look good as the Canucks came back, but the second half was where Johnson overwhelmed North Plainfield at all angles of the game.
Coming out of halftime, Johnson received the ball and drove down into North Plainfield territory and finished their first drive of the second half with a 14-yard rushing touchdown from senior quarterback Mike Bruno. Following the extra point, Johnson went up 21-14.
The next play, no one expected what was to come. Senior kicker Mike Casalino moved forward to get the ball forward, but it was a very short kick. It bounced and it was recovered by the Crusaders, keeping the Canucks offense off the field.
Johnson went back to work for a second drive in the quarter alone, ending it with a four-yard rushing touchdown from senior fullback and co-captain Joe Turek, extending Johnson’s lead to 28-14 with 5:23 left in the third quarter, milking three additional minutes off the clock. Another kickoff lineup ended with another onside kick recovery by Johnson. They sent the offense off to work and did not waste anymore time getting back to work.
On the first play, it felt like the Crusaders smacked the Canucks in the mouth, just pounding through their defense, but through the air in this round. Bruno found senior Jordan Fedak for a 34-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 34-14 Johnson with 5:15 left in the third quarter. Bruno threw his second touchdown pass, a 35-yard strike to Casalino to get Johnson the win heading into Senior Night.
Week 9: Johnson 41, Governor Livingston 6 (November 3: Senior Night)
Talk about the perfect combination for Senior Night! A great day and an awesome night for football to honor the seniors who dedicated so much to the programs they took part in, along with a great rival in Governor Livingston.
Johnson scored early and often, following a Kevin Metz interception of a pass from Governor Livingston junior quarterback Dylan Dwyer. Senior fullback and co-captain Joe Turek stormed his way through the defense and to the end zone for a 42-yard rushing touchdown to give Johnson a 7-0 lead. Following a three-and-out by the Highlanders, Johnson went back to work on offense.
On a drive that started at midfield, the Crusaders took it down the field and finished the drive with a ten-yard rushing touchdown from junior Vito Galluzzo, as Johnson went up 14-0. After another defensive stand by Johnson, the Crusaders struck again on the first play of the next drive, senior quarterback Mike Bruno with a 33-yard rushing touchdown as Johnson led Governor Livingston 21-0 after the first quarter.
Turek scored his second touchdown of the game and Metz added a 62-yard rushing touchdown to the mix as Johnson led Governor Livingston 34-0 at halftime. The starters were pulled in the fourth quarter and sophomore Evan Parenti added a touchdown of his own, while the Highlanders spoiled the shutout bid with a touchdown from James Synder.
Johnson finished the regular season with a 7-1 record and headed to the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the bracket.
Week 10: Johnson 34, Holmdel 6 (November 10: NJSIAA Central, Group 2 First Round)
The elements were all there for an excellent atmosphere for a Friday night football game. The air was frigid, the wind was crazy and everyone around was all bundled up, including myself. I’d gotten butterflies all week, in anticipation of the playoffs starting and to see how the guys would do in the opening round.
This was the first time I resorted to using my WordPress website to post live updates since the ink in my pens froze right after the opening kickoff, which of course, had to happen to me at that moment (I still laugh about it to this day). That and making sure my cell phone was charging and I was good to go.
Early on, it was all about the defense stepping up in a big time of the game. The Crusaders recovered a Hornets fumble on a Holmdel drive that began following a Johnson lost fumble. The Crusaders got the scoring going with a one-yard rushing touchdown from senior fullback and co-captain Joe Turek, who plowed his way into Holmdel territory a few plays beforehand.
Senior kicker Mike Casalino was making plays on defense, intercepting a pass from Holmdel junior quarterback Jeff DeCicco as the first quarter expired. Senior Kevin Metz added to the lead with an eight-yard rushing touchdown as Johnson now led 13-0. Holmdel had yet another turnover, a lost fumble and it turned into more points. Junior Sebastian Iakouchevitch, who will be a major player in next year’s team, exploded for a 43-yard rushing touchdown to make the game 20-0 Johnson at halftime.
The Hornets cut the lead to 20-6 coming out of halftime and made things interesting. Adversity struck the Crusaders, after a lost fumble put the defense back on the field, needing to make a big stop, which they did. They forced Holmdel to punt and Iakouchevitch chugged his way into Hornets territory with two huge running plays and senior Brandon Rapp capped off the drive with an eight-yard rushing touchdown to give Johnson a 27-6 lead, following the extra point.
Turek added another one-yard rushing touchdown to cap off the scoring, as Johnson defeated Holmdel by a final score of 34-6, punching their ticket to their second semifinals in the past three seasons.
Week 11: Hillside 19, Johnson 16 (November 18: NJSIAA Central, Group 2 Semifinals)
A rematch was on hand with Hillside defeating South River in the first round by a final score of 28-7. The game started out a bit sloppy on a rainy night, with Johnson losing a fumble deep inside the Hillside red zone, but gaining two points after a bad snap on a Hillside punt ended up out of bounds, as Johnson led Hillside 2-0 after the first quarter.
After Hillside took a 6-2 lead, Johnson drove into Hillside territory as the clock was going down and capped it off with a huge rushing play. Junior Vito Galluzzo gave Johnson back the lead with a 14-yard rushing touchdown and after the extra point, Johnson led Hillside 9-6 at halftime.
The Comets got a touchdown to take a 12-9 lead in the third quarter and added another one later on a strike through the air to go up 19-9.
Johnson continued fighting and this was something I always admired about the team, how they always fight, regardless of what is going on in a game. A deep pass by Mike Bruno fell incomplete, but Hillside was called for pass interference, moving the ball up to the spot of the foul and giving Johnson a fresh set of downs.
Senior kicker Mike Casalino got his team closer with a nine-yard rushing touchdown, cutting the lead to 19-16 and it was the defense’s chance to make the stop and give the Crusaders an attempt towards making a comeback. The defense got the stop and the offense took the field. Casalino chugged his way deep into Hillside territory and made the chance seem to be there.
One pass was intercepted and that sealed the deal on the game.
However, what I liked the most, although it hurt a lot, was that the guys went out fighting and that’s really all you can ask for. The conference championship was the one accolade the Crusaders added to the banner and nothing could take it away.
Week 12: Rahway 21, Johnson 13 (November 23: Thanksgiving Day)
With one more game to be played, it was a chance to show a gritty team like Rahway that Johnson would finish their season on a fighting note, but in this one, the opening minutes were the major difference of the game. One major thing occurred early on that I was happy about.
Senior fullback and co-captain Joe Turek broke the record to become the all-time leader of rushing in Johnson football.
Rahway struck on the third play of their first drive and following a turnover, drove down the field and added another one on a passing play to go up 14-0 just four minutes into the game. For the most part, these two defenses continued fighting, although no more points were put on the board early on.
Senior quarterback Mike Bruno threw one deep to the end zone for a ten-yard touchdown pass to senior Kevin Metz to cut the lead to 14-7, the score after three quarters of play. Johnson drove deep into Rahway territory, but a lost fumble sort of took the wind out of everyone on the field, as Rahway had the ball and the lead. They took a 21-7 lead and looked like it was an easy lock on the win, but Johnson made it interesting.
Senior Lorenzo De Paz came up with his second of two interceptions on the game, giving the ball back to Johnson with 50 seconds left. Turek grinded his way to the end zone for a 32-yard rushing touchdown to cut the lead to 21-13. An onside kick that followed was narrowly recovered by Rahway and that just about ended the game.
There were a lot of really great things that came about this past football season for the Johnson Crusaders. If I was one to say they would be in these positions, clinching the conference championship for the first time since 2006, most wins in a season since 2008 and starting off the way they did, I would have thought this was a longshot.
There will be a lot to laugh about, reflect upon and remember vividly when the football dinner comes around in March!
