CLARK, NJ- The Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusaders varsity football team will try and rebound as they take on Delaware Valley HS tomorrow night in their home opener, September 7th at 7:00 p.m.
HISTORY:
The two teams have met the past three seasons. Delaware Valley won a home matchup in Week 3 of the 2015 season by a final score of 24-13.
In the 2016 Week 4 matchup, Johnson won by a final score of 39-12.
In last year’s Week 4 matchup, Johnson won by a final score of 49-21.
Notes:
Johnson comes off their 21-14 Week 0 loss at Governor Livingston HS, where senior running back and co-captain Sebastian Iakouchevitch scored two rushing touchdowns, powering the Crusaders, along with 182 rushing yards on 29 carries.
Iakouchevitch opened up the scoring, which was set up by a 39-yard punt return from junior Max Carmino. Both of his scores came on 17-yard rushes. Mistakes were the story of the game for Johnson, which featured from an interception from sophomore quarterback Joe Greenbush, a lot fumble in the backfield and two turnover on downs.
In total, the Johnson running game has totaled numbers of 354 yards on 40 carries.
Delaware Valley is coming off a 37-7 Week 0 win over New Providence HS. They are led by junior quarterback Tylor Blake, who is in his first season as the starting QB for the Terriers.
Other major talent the Terriers lost to graduation last year include Jared Pershyn, Joseph Beljan and Kyle Monda who powered the Terriers on the passing game, along with losses on the ground game, including RBs Anthony Maddalena, Rob Guiliano
Blake is 8-for-15 on the season with 175 passing yards and four touchdown passes to go along with one interception.
Other players on Delaware Valley for Johnson to watch on Friday night include receivers Lane McCarty and Kyle Carney, who are major targets on the passing game, while Blake and senior Tyler Neal lead the way for Delaware Valley on the rushing game.
If the Johnson Crusaders improve from their first loss, by playing hard, fast, physical and going at the football and charging through other team’s defenses on offense and drawing up good game plans, they will compete on Friday night.
If the Johnson defense can charge and chase Tylor Blake, slow down Tyler Neal on the rushing game, along with slowing down the receivers, it is quite possible that could stand out as a factor as to the outcome of tomorrow night’s game.
Delaware Valley is a football program that’s always been good in years past, an improved team from last year, so we will see what develops Friday night.
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