CRANFORD, NJ–On Friday night, GMC Gridiron traveled up to Memorial Field in Cranford to see the second seeded Cougars host seventh seeded South Plainfield in the opening round of the 2012 North Jersey Section 2 Group III State Playoffs. Pittsburgh bound QB, Reggie Green threw for a TD, and run for two more while also having runs of 22, 60 and 54 yards in the second half to boost Cranford to a 37-12 victory over the Tigers. Below are notes from the contest.
Pre-Game Notes
Cranford, the defending champion in this section, comes into the contest with a 6-2 overall record, and the second seed. Â South Plainfield enters the game with a 4-4 record including three straight victories. Â Both teams have given up an average of 14 points per game. Â The Tigers are making their first playoff appearance since 2007 when it reached the Championship Game and lost to Newark Westside. Â Kean hoops standout, Mike Burton was the QB for the Tigers at that time. Â
Reggie Green, bound for Pittsburgh next fall, leads the Cougars at QB. Â South Plainfield is led by Kyle Maroney at QB while Rommello Monroe and Joe Pellegrino are the backfield tandem. Â Quinn Cochrane, Justin Glover, and Tory Russell are targets for Maroney in the SPHS passing game. Â Anthony Torchia and Joe Jakubik are also contributors for the Tigers. Â Jim Dwyer and Bobby Bruns are key contributors for Cranford on offense.
First Quarter
1:52–Arrive–Cranford already leads 7-0.
1:19–CRAN–gets run from Reggie Green for a first down at SP 18 yard line.
30.1–CRAN–Green runs left inside the SP 5 yard line for first down.
0.0–CRAN–Green stopped short of goal line.
Second Quarter
11:11–CRAN–Green runs over right side of line for 1 yard TD. Â Cougars make extra point for a 14-0 lead.
11:04–SP–takes ensuing kickoff.
9:24–SP–goes three and out–forced to punt.
7:46–CRAN–calls timeout with a 4th and 5 at SP 49.
7:39–CRAN–Green runs to his right for a first down–SP called for unsportsmanlike conduct after a late hit on Green along CRAN sideline.
5:50–CRAN–on 3rd down and 11, Green throws left to Bobby Brun for a 13 yard TD. Â Cougars make the extra point for a 21-0 lead.
4:11–SP–gets a first down, but eventually are forced to punt.
3:43–CRAN–takes possession. Â Green makes a nifty run to his right into SP territory for a first down despite illegal block in the back penalty on the run.
2:31–CRAN–Green called for an intentional grounding.
1:26–CRAN–stalls after grounding penalty–forced to punt.
1:11–SP–Joe Pellegrino takes the punt, and runs it into CRAN territory.
56.6–SP–Pellegrino runs right off fake reverse, and gets down to about the CRAN 15 yard line.
50.9–SP–Kyle Maroney throws ball into the CRAN end zone–pass interference called on the Cougars. Â SP gets ball at about the CRAN 1 yard line.
33.1–SP–Maroney spikes the ball after CRAN stops Anthony Torchia shy of the goal line.
25.4–SP–Maroney runs over left side on the keeper for a TD. Â Tigers miss the extra point for a 21-6 CRAN lead.
15.3–CRAN–takes possession.
0.0–CRAN–runs out the clock for a 21-6 lead at the half.
Third Quarter
11:56–SP–kicks an onside kick on the kickoff, and gets the ball in Cranford territory.
11:51–SP runs for a short gain.
11:15–SP–Maroney fires a pass complete for about 22 yards to CRAN 8.
10:48–SP–Pellegrino takes handoff on a sweep left, and is stopped for no gain.
10:22–SP–Maroney keeps it, and runs up the middle to about the CRAN 5 yard line.
9:45–SP–Pellegrino runs over the right side for a short gain–4th down and goal for SP.
9:09–SP–Pellegrino takes pitch from Maroney, runs right toward SP sideline, but is stopped at about the 2 yard line–CRAN ball.
7:27–CRAN–after Dwyer runs up the middle for a couple of plays, Green runs a keeper to the right side for about 10 yards and a first down.
7:03–CRAN–Dwyer runs up the middle to the 29 yard line for another 1st down.
6:40–CRAN–takes inside handoff, and runs it to the 35 yard line.
6:16–CRAN–Green runs up the middle on a keeper for a short gain.
5:51–CRAN–Green runs for 60 yards on the keeper to the SP two yard line.
4:43–CRAN–Jim Dwyer scores on a two yard run. Â Cougars make the extra point for a 28-6 lead.
4:41–SP–receives kickoff.
4:20–SP–Maroney completes a 21 yard pass to Tory Russell to the CRAN 41 yard line.
3:54–SP–Maroney slips while trying to pitch left to Monroe, fumble recovered by Monroe at the CRAN 45 yard line.
3:31–SP–tries some trickery with a double reverse and flea flicker back to Maroney, who throws downfield, but short of his intended target for an incomplete pass.
3:07–SP–Maroney zips a 30 yard pass completion to Monroe for a 1st down at CRAN 15 yard line.
2:54–CRAN intercepts Maroney pass in the end zone for a touchback.
2:49–CRAN runs up the middle for a short gain.
2:07–CRAN–Green keeps it and runs 55 yards to the SP 24 yard line.
1:41–CRAN–runs up the middle for three yards to the SP 21 yard line.
1:05-CRAN–runs left for two yards to the SP 19 yard line.
0:32–CRAN–runs left again for another five yards to just inside the SP 15 yard line.
0:00–CRAN lets clock run out to end third.
Fourth Quarter
11:45–CRAN–Green keeps it for a run inside the SP 10 yard line.
11:00–CRAN–Green keeps it again for a gain of about a yard.
10:22–CRAN–Green runs left to the outside for a gain of about two yards.
9:46–CRAN–Green keeps it again, but its tackled for a loss by Anthony Torchia
8:53–CRAN–knocks in a short field goal for a 31-6 lead.
8:52–SP–receives the kickoff.
8:35–SP–Maroney throws a screen pass left to Monroe, who scampers for 18 yards to CRAN 39 yard line.
8:23–SP–Pellegrino takes pitch right and runs for about 3 yards.
8:01–SP–Maroney keeps it, and runs over the right side for about 5 yards to CRAN 31.
7:36–SP–Maroney throws pass that is deflected and falls incomplete–4th and 2 for Tigers.
7:25–SP–Maroney hands off to Pellegrino, who throws pass downfield and it is knocked down by  CRAN–Cougar ball.
7:19–CRAN–Dwyer takes handoff and runs for about five yards.
6:35–CRAN–Dwyer takes handoff and runs for 7 yards and a Cougar first down.
5:52–CRAN–After a penalty against the Cougars, Green keeps it and runs to the right and gains 24 yards to SP 45.
5:07–CRAN–After a penalty backs the Cougars up to their own 43, Green hands off to Dwyer, who runs and breaks tackles for a 22 yard gain to the SP 35.
4:24–CRAN–Green hands off, and the Cougars run left for about 3 yards.
3:44–CRAN–tries to run right, but it is stopped for a loss by the SP defense.
2:58–CRAN–#12 now in the game for Green, keeps it, and runs up the middle for about 7 yards to SP 33.
1:17–CRAN–#12 runs the ball 34 yards on the keeper for the touchdown. Â SP blocks the extra point for a 37-6 CRAN lead.
1:10–SP–receives kickoff.
52.5–SP–Maroney fires a 65 yard TD pass to Pellegrino. Â Tigers are unable to score on the two point conversion attempt. Â CRAN leads 37-12.
45.4–CRAN–takes the onside kick.
0.0–CRAN–takes a knee for a couple plays, and runs out the clock for the 37-12 victory.
With the win, Cranford improves to 7-2 overall on the season, and advances to the semifinals of N2 Group III to face the winner of the game between third seeded Palisades Park and sixth seeded Rahway. Â Meanwhile, South Plainfield, which had its three game winning streak snapped, fell to 4-5 on the season, and will face North Plainfield on Thanksgiving at Frank R. Jost Memorial Stadium.