CLARK, NJ- When the schedule for the NJSIAA consolation games was released, the Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusaders varsity football team found themselves taking on the Spotswood High School Chargers for the second straight week.
With Spotswood back on the schedule, Johnson’s preparation continued in the same routine, but it felt strange for many, playing the same in just less than a week. The Crusaders beat the Chargers 35-13 on October 26.
“We had a successful route the first time [on October 26],” Johnson senior Luke Giltner said on once they found they were playing Spotswood a second straight week. “We stuck to the same game plan. We just polished up what we did poorly the first time and came ready to go this time.”
“You really never play a team two weeks in a row unless you go to the playoffs and happen to end the season with them,” Johnson assistant coach Joe Ascolese said. “[For this week, we practiced on] making game adjustments from last week in-game and working on the stuff [Spotswood] beat us on all week.”
Once the opening kickoff was done, the Crusaders went right to business like any other game.
Senior Sebastian Iakouchevitch ran for 119 yards on 19 carries and three touchdowns and sophomore quarterback Joe Greenbush threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to junior Max Carmino as the Crusaders defeated the Chargers 40-6 in an NJSIAA consolation match Thursday night in Clark.
Iakouchevitch’s touchdown rushes included a two-yard rush and two one-yard rushes, powering the Johnson offense that looked unstoppable on the evening. His first rushing score got the scoring going, giving Johnson a 6-0 lead with 9:45 left in the first quarter (failed two-point conversion).
“I’m not sure of the last time we had a losing record, so we want to keep that tradition intact,” Iakouchevitch said. “We don’t want to let the past seniors down.”
Johnson continued to be relentless as their offense took the field once again. Senior Vito Galluzzo ran for one score on four carries and 26 yards, extending it to 13-0 Johnson.
