FRENCHTOWN, NJ- The Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusaders varsity football team took to the road with a second consecutive major task on hands, when they took on the Delaware Valley High School Terriers, looking to continue their fantastic start to the 2017 season.
The Crusaders immediately set the tone in their first offensive possession and dominated the entirety of the game to defeat the Terriers by a final score of 49-21 Friday night in Frenchtown. It is also the first time since 2006 that Johnson has started the season off with a 4-0 record.
“We just run the rock, we can throw when we need to and we’re just a physical offense,” Johnson senior and co-captain Tommy Bowen said. “We’re going to keep pushing and we’re going to keep chugging.”
On defense, the Crusaders came ready to play, forcing three Terriers turnovers, including a lost fumble, an interception and a turnover on downs.
On offense, Johnson started with the ball and did not waste time getting to work. The running game pounded their way into Delaware Valley territory, including a 35-yard rush from senior Kevin Metz.
Senior fullback and co-captain Joe Turek capped off the 8-play, 77-yard drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown and following senior kicker Mike Casalino’s extra point, Johnson took a 7-0 lead. He credited the team’s game plan to the week of practice prior to the game.
“It started with practice,” Turek said. “We practiced hard all week. This team is just so driven to win every week.”
The Crusaders defense subsequently took the field against the Terriers offense. Delaware Valley couldn’t get much ball movement during the drive, despite a huge conversion on 4th and 1 from their own 41-yard line, a one-yard rush that gave them life against the physicality of the Johnson defense.
The defense made a stand and stopped the Terriers, forcing them to punt. The action on the field that took place on the punt would prove to be disastrous for Delaware Valley. A high snap went over the punter’s head, but was recovered and gotten rid of, but the kick was a very short one, giving Johnson great field position at the Delaware Valley 40-yard line. Their offense would make them pay for the mistakes.
The Crusaders chipped away at the Terriers defense and capped off their second drive with a 13-yard rushing touchdown from senior Brandon Rapp. Following Casalino’s successful extra point, making the score 14-0 Johnson, the score after one quarter of play.
He ran the ball three times for 83 yards in the win for Johnson.
Prior to the end of the first quarter, the defense would overwhelm the Terriers on their next drive. On a running play, the football came loose and was recovered by the Crusaders at the Terriers 38-yard line in the final minute of the first quarter.
The mistakes would haunt Delaware Valley, as the Johnson running game, which has proven to be a powerful weapon for their offense, immediately got right back to work and made them pay. A surprise play was made on the third play of the drive. Senior quarterback Mike Bruno heaved a deep pass to senior Andrew Giamella for a 35-yard pass, setting up Johnson at the Delaware Valley eight-yard line.
Three plays later, junior Sebastian Iakouchevitch punched it in for a one-yard rushing touchdown and following Casalino’s PAT, Johnson now led 21-0.
Their defense went back to work when Delaware Valley appeared to be gaining ground into Crusaders territory. Delaware Valley senior quarterback Jared Pershyn threw a deep pass, but was intercepted by Johnson senior Kevin Metz, who got the ball back to the Terriers 40-yard line.
“You have to put it to just playing together and the phenomenal game plan by Coach Di Nucci,” Metz said. “It had me in the right place at the right time and I just made the catch.”
The turnovers continued to keep the Terriers defense on the field the running game went at them again and again. The Johnson running game struck again, by getting closer and closer, with a lot of short running plays, featuring a 12-yard rush by Bruno and a 13-yard rush by junior Vito Galluzzo.
Galluzzo ran the ball nine times for 61 yards.
Facing 4th and 3, Johnson decided to go for it and Bruno successfully converted with a three-yard rushing touchdown, making the game 28-0 Johnson. The Crusaders were in full control, taking advantage of the Terriers mistakes and turning them into points.
On the night, Bruno ran the ball 13 times for 77 yards in the win for Johnson, continuing to be another force on the Crusaders running game. He’s preached the same message and work ethic to his teammates every single week.
“We just work hard and we’re going to come out here and give it all we got, no matter who we’re playing,” Bruno said.
Delaware Valley would get on the board on their next drive, Pershyn scoring on a six-yard rushing touchdown, on a drive that started at the Terriers 40-yard line, to cut the Johnson lead to 28-7, as they went into halftime.
The Crusaders, as a team, ran the ball 56 times for 575 yards on the ground on the road victory, featuring a couple of the passing plays and did not punt the ball at all on the night. The Johnson offensive line featuring sophomore Patrick Brennan, senior Dan Olenick, junior Luke Giltner, seniors James Greenbush and Eddie Weingartner and junior Rico Veltre provide the running game for the explosiveness on the field, allowing it to happen.
“All we do is run the ball. If we don’t have to pass, we’re not going to pass,” Rapp said. “We’ve probably run the offense, run the veer about a thousand times since the summer. It’s the repetition, doing it consistently every single week.”
The collective team effort of individual assignments being done has stood out to the coaches in the game.
“It helps when your offense is moving the ball and putting points on the board and taking some pressure off the defense to be able to play a little looser,” Johnson assistant coach Chris Di Nucci said. “That helps us to lead to some turnovers as well.”
Delaware Valley began the second half with the ball, but struggled to get any movement with the ball and stalled, only moving the ball 13 yards on the drive before having to punt. Johnson would continue to cash in on their chances and never let up.
The Crusaders clicked at all angles of the game and took advantage of all the scoring chances that they set themselves up for on the night.
Johnson’s next drive featured the running game going right at the Delaware Valley defense and they capped off the drive with a surprise play through the air. Facing 4th and 6 from the Terriers 27-yard line, including a penalty on the drive, Bruno suddenly threw towards the end zone and senior Lorenzo De Paz hauled in the pass and fought to the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown pass, blowing the game open, Johnson now leading 35-7.
He was overjoyed by the scoring chance after seeing the pass come towards his direction.
“I’m just happy [Coach Ascolese] has faith in me and when Mike threw it up, it couldn’t have made me more happier,” De Paz said. “I caught it [for the] touchdown, celebration and it’s onto Hillside next week.”
Johnson got the ball back following a Delaware Valley turnover on downs and Turek put an exclamation point down as the final seconds of the third quarter dwindled down. He received the ball, found an opening through the Terriers defense and sped off to the end zone, a 63-yard rushing touchdown and s successful extra point, making the score 42-7 Johnson, the score after the third quarter.
On the night, Turek ran the ball 18 times for 168 yards to go with his two rushing touchdowns.
Pershyn would find senior Joey Beljan on the next drive, a 47-yard touchdown pass that cut the Johnson lead to 42-14.
Iakouchevitch fueled the Crusaders on offense with the next drive and Johnson capped it off with a Casalino 37-yard rushing touchdown and after his successful PAT, the score was now 49-14 Johnson, the last score on the night for the Crusaders. Delaware Valley would get one more touchdown in the final minutes.
“Just working out [in the offseason through winter track and ironworkers] helped me a lot to progress on the field,” Casalino said.
“Our kids did a great job sticking to the game plan,” Di Nucci added. “They ran to the ball well. We were able to handle [Delaware Valley HS].”
Johnson also defeated Delaware Valley in last year’s meeting by a final score of 39-12, with the running game rushing for over 400 yards in the win.
The Johnson Crusaders (4-0) head back home to take on Hillside HS on Friday, October 6 in the UNICO Bowl at 7:00 p.m.
The Delaware Valley Terriers (2-2) head out on the road to take on Bernards HS on Friday, October 6 at 7:00 p.m.
