By Jason Lockhart
Morristown High School football varsity fought back from a 14-0 halftime deficit to beat the Roxbury Gaels 21-14 in Saturday’s Homecoming game. Colonials running back Kevin Gaskins ran 83 yards for the winning touchdown with 4:05 left in the contest.
Colonials head coach Chris Hull had to make some adjustments after his offense turned over the ball three times in the first half. He used Gaskins in the wildcat to carry the ball up the middle from a shotgun formation, which worked. Gaskins scored Morristown’s first touchdown midway through the third quarter and finished the game with 210 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
The 5-9, 165-lb. senior gave credit to his offensive line.
“The offensive line did a great job with their blocking ability,” Gaskins said. “When I saw room to run from the outside of the line, I just ran.”
Entering Saturday’s game averaging 143 yards per game, the Gaels relied on running backs Dan Manzo and Donald Panciello to move the chains. Their two touchdown drives in the first half started inside the Colonials’ 30-yard line after fumbles by Morristown players Kamau Dumas and Rafe Shupe.
The Colonials (4-3) also had to deal with three injuries in the first half. Wide receiver Shawn Bell, who hurt his shoulder, begged the team doctor at halftime to allow him to keep playing.
“Bell is a tough kid and he got tougher today,” Hull said. “He is growing up a little, I am proud of him, and I was glad that he was able to get back into the game.”
Colonials linebacker Dave Garrett sacked Gaels quarterback Aaron Bossard with 1:57 remaining. The visitors’ two-minute drill ended when Bossard failed to find an open receiver with 24 seconds left on the clock.
The Colonials wore the number 52 on their helmets to support Rutgers linebacker Eric LeGrand, who was paralyzed in the Scarlet Knights’ Oct. 16 game against Army. LeGrand, a Woodbridge native, is being treated at the Hackensack University Medical Center.
Fans also observed a moment of silence for former Colonials head coach John Chirrona, who passed away almost a week ago from cancer. Chirrona was the school’s head football coach in the 1970s and 80s.
Saturday’s victory keep Morristown in the playoff hunt; the team is tied for third place with Kennedy Memorial and Plainfield in the Division II Group III Standings. The Colonials travel to Chester on Friday to play West Morris Central—-the division’s number one seed.
