Plainfield brings fast attack to Morristown High for playoff football showdown

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Morristown High cheerleaders practice for home opener on new synthetic turf and track. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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By Jason Lockhart

The Morristown Colonials spent Thursday evening in the Morristown High School cafeteria studying game films for Saturday’s playoff opener against Plainfield High.

They saw a Cardinals team that is capable of wearing down a physical defense.

“This team has a lot of speed,” said Colonials defensive coordinator Don Zsak. “They will be the first team that has more . . . speed than we do.”

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Morristown High cheerleaders will be ready to give the Colonials a boost in Saturday's playoff contest with Plainfield. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Plainfield’s athleticism is complemented by an offensive line that averages about 250 pounds.

Key players to watch on Saturday are Cardinals wide receivers Delano Mullings and Joshua Wilson, and running back Dashawn Robinson.

Mullings and Wilson are capable of sprinting downfield to catch the deep balls and slanted passes and motoring with the football.

Robinson is a speedy back who can burst up the middle or around the offensive line to gain 10 yards on a carry.

Colonials head coach Chris Hull and his assistants told their players the Cardinals are a home run team that can surprise a defense with a big play. Hull said the defense must be physical and communicate effectively.

“When we’re not physical, we do not play well,” Hull said. “We would have to play physical to win in the playoffs.”

Both teams will bring 5-4 records to Memorial Field in Morristown at 1 pm. Plainfield, from Union County, is coming off a 21-18 loss to Linden last week. Morristown ended its regular season with a 21-13 home victory against a tough High Point team.

Plainfield’s winning tradition includes alums who have gone on to pro careers.  Former defensive back Manny Collins starred for Rutgers (2002-06) and was signed by the New York Jets.

The Cardinals’ downfall this year may be a lack of discipline. Costly turnovers, dropped passes, lazy routes and bad penalties have spoiled their chances in close games this season.

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They both have 5-4 records...but not for long. Morristown and Plainfield battle in the high school football playoffs on Saturday. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

“You guys can be a better team because you are well disciplined,” Zsak told his players.

He noted that Cardinals players have a tendency of pointing fingers at each other when things go wrong.

Colonials players have no intention of letting their guards down.

“We don’t under-estimate any team,” said Morristown’s Mike Musinger. “We take them as if they are the actual best and play with a good level of intensity.”

Saturday is the opening round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association football playoffs. Both teams are competing in the North II Group III sectionals, which consist of eight playoff teams.

“The key to the playoffs is staying healthy and getting hot at the right time,” Hull said.

The bracket for the North II Group III sectionals can be found here.

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