Amboy Knocks Off Bishop Ahr, 20-13

Seventh Ranked Panthers Make Big Plays To Defeat Sixth Ranked Trojans

PERTH AMBOY, NJ–It was the first visit by GMC Gridiron to Albert G. Walters Stadium on the main campus of Perth Amboy High School, and the seventh ranked Panthers didn’t disappoint. Quarterback Faustino Saucedo threw for two touchdowns and ran for another while throwing for over 275 yards passing to led Amboy to one of its biggest wins in school history. Coming into this season, Perth Amboy has only had seven non-losing seasons in the past 30 years. Amboy came close to breaking through last year with a 4-6 mark, but often shot itself in the foot in many of its losses. The Panthers have never qualified for the state tournament since the current format came into effect back in 1974.

However, on this cold and blustery night in Perth Amboy, the Panthers made a huge step toward reaching the playoffs for the first time ever. Seventh ranked Amboy, which will need some help to get into the very tough field of North Jersey Section 2 Group IV, knocked off sixth ranked Bishop Ahr by the score of 20-13. PAHS led by scores of 14-0 at halftime, and 20-7 with just over eight minutes to play in the fourth quarter, and held on by stopping the Trojans on downs after Ahr had pulled to within seven at 20-13 on a Bill DeMato touchdown pass to Kenny Virden with 4:45 remaining.

Bishop Ahr, which was shutout last week at home against North Brunswick, was able to move the ball on the ground with Virden going over 100 yards for the night, but the Trojans weren’t able to get the passing game in sync. Meanwhile, Perth Amboy, which entered the game off a bye week, utilized the return of wideout Robert Brown from injury by making big passing plays on the strength of Saucedo’s arm, and also key plays on defense and special teams. Nigel Hatcher set up the first score with an interception while Umar Amin set up the second touchdown with a block of a Joel Lynch punt. The Trojans, which didn’t score in the final quarter of its 33-7 win over Carteret two weeks ago, was scoreless for nearly eight quarters over the past three games before Virden’s touchdown run with 2:48 remaining in the third.

Several plays after Hatcher’s interception, Saucedo hooked up with Tyler Maisonet for a 35 yard touchdown pass with 9:13 to go in the first half for a 7-0 lead. Amboy had another opportunity to score when Saucedo connected with Brown for a huge gain, but the Panthers weren’t able to cash in. The Panthers were winning the battle of field position though, and it eventually paid off with Amin’s block with under three minutes to go that set up the home team inside Ahr’s 20 yard line. PAHS ran down the clock until there was nine seconds left in the half when Saucedo scored a touchdown from one yard out for the 14-0 lead at the intermission. Bishop Ahr, which tried to use a lot of razzle dazzle with a couple halfback option passes including one on the first play of the game, some wildcat formations with Danny Rasimowicz at QB, and even a hook and ladder early in the third quarter, didn’t get on the board until less than three minutes to go in the period.

Ahr’s defense kept the Trojans in the game though with sacks by Chris Guido, Justin Johnson, and Rasimowicz. Virden then had a nifty run to cut the deficit in half, and Amboy took the 14-7 lead into the fourth. Perth Amboy got the decisive score though when Saucedo hooked up with Robert Almanzar for a 32 yard touchdown with 8:18 remaining. Almanzar had made a spectacular catch for a first down earlier in the drive. BGA wouldn’t go away though as Bill DeMato hooked up with Virden for a 22 yard touchdown pass with 4:45 remaining to draw within seven. However, Amboy blocked the extra point, and then Lynch kicked the ensuing kick off out of bounds. Ahr was able to overcome that, and force Amboy to kick, but Saucedo made a huge special teams play with a quick kick that was downed by the Panthers on the Ahr six yard line. The Trojans were able to move the ball, but were eventually stopped on downs.

Amboy, which improved to 5-2 with the win, ran out the clock from there for the 20-13 final score. Ahr, which will get a bye next week, dropped to 5-3 with the loss, and its chances to make the Non-Public Group III state tournament in two weeks are in jeopardy.