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SOUTH BRUNSWICK – Yeah, they’re playing in a NJSIAA sectional championship next week at Rutgers’ High Point Solutions Stadium. But if South Brunswick would have lost Wednesday against North Brunswick in their annual rivalry game – oh boy.
“Oh yeah, I would have been hearing it from these guys,” said Vikings senior Jaylan Lawson, who played with many of the North Brunswick players in Pop Warner. “They wouldn’t have let it go.”
Lawson did his part in South Brunswick’s 42-20 win on a cold and windy evening. With his team leading 14-7 late in the first half, the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder scored on a 50-yard interception return. Three plays into the second half, Lawson streaked to a 55-yard touchdown off a pitch to give the Vikings a 28-7 lead.
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North Brunswick still leads the all-time series 23-19-1, but South Brunswick has won eight in a row. The Raiders’ last win was a 6-2 victory in 2009. But unlike the last five years, in which North Brunswick struggled and missed the playoffs, there were expectations that this game could be close in Mike Cipot's first year as head coach.
“They played hard,” South Brunswick coach Joe Goerge said. “It was a good game. It was a short week for us. Listen, no excuses. You go out and win this game 42-20. I don’t know sometimes what people expect. This is a great win. Mike’s done a real nice job. They’re definitely making a move in the right direction.”
This fall, the Raiders (6-4) made the postseason for the first time since 2011 and feature exciting sophomore running back Myles Bailey (entered Wednesday's game with 1,343 rushing yards). In the Central Group V first round on Nov. 10, North Brunswick lost 17-13 to Freehold Township.
Throw in that South Brunswick (10-1) used sophomore quarterback Gage Katzenell-Hall in place of injured senior starter Felix Quinones, and there was definitely intrigue heading to kickoff.
The Vikings, though, methodically took over and broke it open with Lawson’s touchdowns. Katzenell-Hall added a 14-yard touchdown run and a 40-yard scoring pass to Hussain Abidi. Justin Shorter had a 1-yard touchdown run and Katibu Martin added a 5-yard score. Evan Sooby made six extra points.
Shorter, the Penn State-bound receiver/defensive back, sat the second half. Goerge said that he has a bruised quad, but could have played and will be fine for the final. Guess what – South Brunswick has other playmakers with Lawson leading the way Wednesday.
“He’s been doing that all year,” Goerge said. “He really has. He’s been solid for us all year. I know Shorter gets a lot of the press, but Jaylan has been excellent. Katibu had a nice game for us. Guys step up, that’s what you have to do.”
It was close early. North Brunswick opened with an 11-play drive that ate nearly seven minutes off the clock. Quarterback Christian Petrillo capped the drive with an 14-yard touchdown run. Bailey picked up 43 yards on seven carries. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder unofficially finished with 103 rushing yards. He also had a run for over 40 yards that was called back because of holding. Bailey scored twice, catching a 33-yard pass from Petrillo and on a 21-yard run.
On Nov. 17, Quinones injured his throwing elbow seven minutes into South Brunswick’s 21-10 win over Old Bridge in the Central Group V semifinals. Quinones entered that game as his team’s leading rusher with 749 yards and 13 touchdowns and threw for 542 yards and nine touchdowns.
Goerge said the next day that the X-rays on Quinones’ elbow was negative. Wednesday after the North Brunswick game, Goerge said that Quinones is “very questionable” for the Dec. 2 final against Manalapan at Rutgers, but may be able to play.
Wednesday, enter the sophomore in his first varsity start.
“I think Gage handled himself real well again,” Goerge said. “He came in ready. He’s a hard worker. He’s at practice every day all year.”
Lawson, meanwhile, has fond memories of the series. Aside from playing against his North Brunswick friends, he saw his first varsity time on special teams against North Brunswick as a freshman. Now, he put his stamp on the series as a senior with his two big plays.
“I love them,” said Lawson of those highlight-film runs. “That’s what I live for. That’s every football player’s dream, you know. When I get the ball, I feel like I’m in my zone. Having the ball in my hand, I feel like I’m controlling the game. So I like that feeling. It’s just straight tunnel vision. All I see is end zone.”
This might be the last time the teams meet around Thanksgiving. Goerge said that the game was moved from Thanksgiving morning to Wednesday this year “just to give the kids off tomorrow. Spend it with their family. We’re looking to move this game to zero week next year. Hopefully, we can play it as like a kickoff classic. Listen, some of these games are just losing a little bit of their luster as you get to Thanksgiving. A lot of teams play tonight and tomorrow’s a good day to give them off and spend the day with their family.”
Of course, Goerge spends time with his family on the sidelines, as it is. His sons Jason and Michael are South Brunswick assistant coaches. He'll use his free Thanksgiving to visit with more family, including his three grandsons, “So they’ll keep me busy.”
NORTH BRUNSWICK (6-4) 7-0-7-6 – 20
SOUTH BRUNSWICK (10-1) 7-14-14-7 – 42
Scoring Plays
NB – Petrillo 14 run (Ahr kick)
SB – Katzenell-Hall 14 run (Sooby kick)
SB – Shorter 1 run (Sooby kick)
SB – Lawson 50 INT return (Sooby kick)
SB – Lawson 55 run (Sooby kick)
NB – Bailey 33 pass from Petrillo (Ahr kick)
SB – Abidi 40 pass from Katzenell-Hall (Sooby kick)
SB – Martin 5 run (Sooby kick)
NB – Bailey 21 run (kick failed)
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