Cougars Crush Indians To Take a 6-0 Record For the First Time Ever

Cranford’s biggest obstacle in trying to contain Rahway was making sure the Cougar defense was in position to make tackles quickly at the point of attack. Cranford couldn’t afford to let speedy Rahway senior quarterback Hakeem Kornegay or any of his teammates break containment, otherwise it could have made for a long afternoon.

Instead, Cranford’s defense was in the Rahway backfield for most of Saturday’s divisional gridiron clash, winning the all-important battle at the line of scrimmage for a change vs. the Indians.

There was senior lineman T.J. Nichols making a tackle for a two- yard loss and then there was senior linebacker Anthony DaSilva with a stop for another two-yard setback. On one play junior linebacker Nick Diaz and senior linebacker J.P. Christiano combined for a hard-hitting tackle for a one-yard loss. Other key tackles over the course of the game were made by senior defensive backs Sean McGovern and Walter James and by senior linebacker Michael Klimek.

Another outstanding defensive performance enabled Cranford to hold a fourth opponent to just one score as the Cougars produced a decisive 20-6 Mid-State 39 Conference-East B Division triumph over Rahway at Veterans Field. Cranford scored touchdowns in the first, third and fourth quarters and yielded just one score on a missed assignment in the second period.

As a result, the Cougars are now 6-0 for the first time ever and also improved to 3-0 in the East B Division. Rahway slipped to 3-2 overall and 1- 2 in the East B.
This was also Cranford’s first win over Rahway since 1997 and its first triumph at Rahway since 1994. The Cougars snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Indians, including a playoff setback in 2004. Cranford head coach Erik Rosenmeier was previously 0-5 vs. Rahway while Rahway head coach Gary Mobley was previously 6-0 vs. Cranford, including a playoff win.

“We practiced hard to follow through with our tackles and play tough, physical football,” said Klimek, whose fumble recovery on Rahway’s second play from scrimmage led to Cranford’s first quarter score.

Cranford’s defense limited Rahway’s running attack to 147 yards on 23 carries, but one of them went for 92 when Rahway junior Jerrel Wilson found a hole and then raced past everybody untouched into the end zone. Take out that play and Cranford limited Rahway to 55 yards on 22 carries, which is only 2.5 yards per attempt. Of Rahway’s 23 rushes, eight were for losses, including five in a row in the second half for minus 13 yards. Also coming up with a fumble recovery in the first half was DaSilva.

“The game fell on our defense today and they did a great job,” Rosenmeier said. “Playing Rahway is always a struggle, but I had faith in our defense and they exceeded my expectations. Against the run it was Christiano and Klimek and Diaz and also Nichols and Ryan Farrell on the line and (lineman) Chris Folinusz was all over the field. Our front seven was solid as well as our secondary.”

Speaking of Cranford’s secondary, Reggie Green had an interception in the end zone late in the first half, while Eric Garguilo had two interceptions in the end zone in the second half.

“Eric had six interceptions last year and I think he now has three or four this year,” Rosenmeier said. “He has the ability to get to the ball and then be in position to come down with it.”

Kornegay, always dangerous with the ball whether he’s running with it or passing it, was held to 38 yards rushing on 10 carries. He completed 4- of-11 passes for 47 yards and two interceptions.

“He’s a nifty kid and hard to grasp,” Klimek said. “We attacked the line of scrimmage to prevent him from getting away.”

Two pass attempts to junior receiver Emmanuel Atilola - one by Kornegay and one by backup sophomore quarterback Jeffrey Bost - were broken up by vicious, but clean hits by Cranford senior defensive back Walter James.

“If you saw Walter in street clothes you wouldn’t believe he could do
that,” Rosenmeier said. “That’s just how he plays football, very physical. He
plays hard and gets after it. He’s a no flincher.”

Green completed a 34-yard pass to Garguilo on Cranford’s first drive, with Garguilo jumping up to come down with a nice, two-handed catch. Five plays later, Christiano scored on a two-yard run. Troy Kettler’s first of two extra points gave Cranford the lead for good at 7-0.

Green ran the option effectively, rushing for 187 yards on 22 carries and one touchdown. He scampered 96 yards untouched for the game’s final score, giving Cranford a 20-6 fourth quarter lead. Kornegay ran as fast as he could to catch Green from behind, but didn’t get to him until Green reached the end zone.

“I saw the end going outside, so I faked and went up the middle,” Green said. “Then I saw clear field. I didn’t know Kornegay was behind me until he grabbed my leg at the last second. We were running the jet play and had to respect Rahway at the corners,” Rosenmeier said. “On that play Reggie just kept the ball and got through. He takes very long strides, so it was a tremendous effort by
Kornegay to try to catch him.”

That was the kind of play that frustrates opposing coaching staffs.

“We stopped that play all game,” Mobley said. “We missed the read and had a bad angle on it. It was an opportunity that Cranford took advantage of.”

Cranford took a 14-6 lead in the third quarter when Green completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Garguilo. Christiano began the eight-play, 47- yard march with a 19-yard run down the left sideline. He finished with 51 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown. Green completed 3-of-6 passes for 54 yards, one touchdown and was intercepted by Wilson in the first half and Kornegay in the second. Cranford also lost a fumble at the Rahway 33 in the third quarter.

“We had untimely turnovers on our part,” Mobley said. “Give Cranford credit, though. Defensively, they were getting penetration and we couldn’t maintain drives and couldn’t get first downs. To hold us to six points is very admirable.”

Rahway was sparked by junior linebacker Justin Becker, who had a fumble recovery and numerous tackles, and also by Wilson.

“Justin is a junior captain and our most improved player,” Mobley said. “From the summer to now he’s excelled and that’s why he’s on the field. Justin and (senior linebacker) Carlos Orsini were both awesome. Jerrel is probably our second most improved player. We need his playmaking ability.”

Bost completed 5-of-8 passes in the fourth quarter for 39 yards and
one interception.

“We feel like he has some talent,” Mobley said. “We went to him (with Kornegay going to wide receiver) looking for a quick strike. He had a couple of missed reads, but he was thrown into the fire there and performed well.”

NOTES: Rahway will seek to bounce back at Westfield (4-1) next Saturday at 2 p.m. at Gary Kehler Stadium, while Cranford will play at Hillside (0-6) next Saturday at 1 p.m. Cranford is enjoying its first 6-0 start, but by no means is ready to let up.

“Words can’t describe how it feels right now,” Klimek said of the 6-0 start. “We’re making history and want to keep on doing so.”

“It’s great to be 6-0,” Green said. “We have to continue to work hard
in practice and be ready both mentally and physically.”

“To be 6-0 is wonderful, it’s a great time,” Rosenmeier said. “It took a tremendous effort for us to beat a team like Rahway today.”

Cranford remains the only undefeated team in North 2, Group 3 and could garner the section’s top seed with wins the next two weeks at Hillside and home against Summit. If Cranford beats Hillside next week, then its home game against Summit on Oct. 28 will be for the East B Division championship. Summit is the defending champion and two years ago won the division when it was called the Mountain Division.

MID-STATE 39 CONFERENCE-EAST B DIVISION CLASH AT RAHWAY’S VETERANS FIELD:

CRANFORD (6-0, 3-0)    7    0    7    6 - 20

RAHWAY (3-2, 1-2)       0     6    0    0 - 6

FIRST QUARTER:
CRANFORD – J.P. Christiano 2 run, Troy Kettler kick (C 7-0)
8 plays, 70 yards, 4:13 used: capitalized on turnover - fumble

SECOND QUARTER:
RAHWAY – Jerrel Wilson 92 run, kick failed (C 7-6)
1 play, 92 yards, :14 used

THIRD QUARTER:
CRANFORD – Eric Garguilo 14 pass from Reggie Green, Troy Kettler kick
(C 14-6) 8 plays, 47 yards, 3:52 used

FOURTH QUARTER:
CRANFORD – Reggie Green 96 run, kick failed (C 20-6)
2 plays, 97 yards, 1:07 used