By Tim Heaton, president, Morristown High School Football Boosters
Three first-quarter touchdowns by senior Jordan Powell propelled the Colonials to a homecoming victory over the Golden Eagles of Morris Knolls on Saturday.
The victory improved Morristown’s record to 3-4.
Here’s a recap of the action:
Bolson kicks the first of three touch-backs, pinning Morris Knolls on its own 20. Burke, Cazimoski, Villegas, Benbow and Buchner swarm over the Eagles. Burke plucks the ball from one of them and runs to the 7 yard line. He’ll eventually get three turnovers.
Powell takes the ball left, changes his mind and runs around the entire defense for a TD. It’s 7-0, Colonials.
On defense, Napoleon, Unger, Benvenuto, and Wilson hold the Golden Eagles. On a must-do 3rd and short, Powell comes up from safety to makes it three-and-out. The Colonials take the ball on their own 33 after the punt. Gwynn punishes the defense, McCall scrambles for a first down.
On the Eagles’ 12, Powell strolls in for his second score. The point-after is good. Watch out if you park behind the goalposts! It’s 14-0 Colonials after just four minutes.
Bolson pins the Eagles’ feathers back again with a touch-back. The Killer B’s–Benvenuto, Benbow and Buchner–swarm over the Eagles. Unger and Heaton save a TD.
Eventually however, the Eagles punch the ball in. It will be their last score. A couple of series later, Powell strikes again, as the stealth fighter Lorenzo sets up a close-in run. It’s 21-7 in the first quarter.
Benvenuto and Napoleon get more sacks on the next series, which leads to a three-and-out for the Eagles. Starting from the Colonials’ 35, Gwynn punishes would be tacklers, McCall scrambles for key first downs, and Unger avoids tackles by running right over defenders.
From the 20, McCall makes a quick slant pass to Lorenzo for another MHS score. Lorenzo will add another score on a slant before the half.
On defense we begin to wonder if the Eagles know Burke belongs to Morristown; he’ll end the game with an interception and two fumble recoveries. Napoleon, Villegas, Benvenuto get multiple sacks. It’s 42-7 at the half, and that’s how it stays.
In the second half , the referees run the clock, as is the rule with a 35-point margin.
The Colonials host arch-rival Delbarton this Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014, at 1 pm. It’s a must-win for Morristown to qualify for the playoffs.
Frosh rally in second half but cannot outrun the clock.
At a chilly and spanking new Morris Knolls field, the Freshman fall behind 42-6 at halftime. At the start of the second, these kids come out guns blazing.
Machel Campbell sets the tone on the opening kickoff with a great open-field tackle. Thomas Hussey, Daniel Lopez, Masuid Young and Kristian Demogerodakis pound the Golden Eagle offense.
On a crucial 3rd down, Jake Buchner sacks the QB. Morris Knolls lines up to punt, but it’s a fake. Yhylmoni Fable, showing Varsity level poise, sacks the Golden Eagle QB for a loss.
The Frosh offensive sputters a bit at first, so the Big Birds get the ball again. But the Frosh smother Morris Knolls again, compliments of Drew Chilson, Robert Schneider and Tyler DiNapoli.
Nathan Estivaerne crashes through a flock of Eagles to wreck a Jets sweep. In a crucial 3rd and short, Jake Buchner hammers the ball carrier to stop the drive.
After a punt, the Frosh are backed up on their own 3 yard line. Drew Chilson takes the ball left, avoids one tackler behind the line of scrimmage, runs over another, then burns past the Morris Knolls bench for a 97-yard TD. Machel Campbell catches a Patrick Meringlolo pass for two points, and it’s 42-14.
On the last series, Chilson has a great run called back by the ref. But the boys come right back at the Eagles. Campbell gains 30 yards on a nicely executed bubble screen that not many varsity teams would be able to execute. Fable has another great run down to the 5 yard line line. But the game ends deep in Eagles territory without another score. Final: 42-14, Morris Knolls.
Editor’s note: Due to an editing mistake, an earlier version of this story incorrectly named the opponent. We regret the error.
Last home football for 2014 game is tomorrow at 1PM. Let’s get out and support Morristown,
Delbarton is unbeaten. The Colonials are unbowed.