GMC Gridiron–Game Analysis–Piscataway @ Franklin–Turkey Day Game–November 22, 2012

Piscataway Defense Shuts Down Lee and Franklin, 21-12

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ–Thanksgiving football in Central Jersey wouldn’t be the same without two old rivals Piscataway and Franklin going at it.  These two teams have been battling each other on the gridiron for the better part of the last 50 years with the exception of a few seasons after the Chiefs left the Mid-State Conference in the late 1980s.  This year’s game was no different.  Although it was more of a defensive struggle, both teams had their share of big plays when it mattered.  Fortunately, for P-Way followers, the Chiefs had more of them.

After giving up a long Franklin touchdown drive that combined the no huddle offense with a good dose of running backs Eddie Lee and Tyler Gray, the Chiefs were only leading 14-12 heading into the fourth quarter.  Kevin Butler helped put the game away for the Chiefs with a 50 yard touchdown run that made it a two score lead that the Warriors weren’t able to overcome.  Butler ended up with 85 yards on four carries while Cameron Nash led the Chiefs in rushing with 90 yards on 19 carries as well as a touchdown as Piscataway won 21-12 to extend its lead in the Thanksgiving series to 24-21-3.

Nadir Barnwell completed 5 of 9 passes for 68 yards including a 12 yard first quarter touchdown to David Claybrook that gave the Chiefs a 7-0 lead with 5:18 to go in the opening period.  P-Way had converted a fourth down on the previous play with 5:45 to go in the period.  Piscataway’s advantage would narrow moments later though as Eddie Lee, coming off a five touchdown and 343 yard performance in a 38-14 victory over Union in the opening round of the North Jersey Section 2 Group V state playoffs five days ago, took the ensuing kickoff, and ran it back 87 yards for a touchdown.  Franklin wasn’t able to score on the two point conversion attempt so P-Way still led 7-6 with 5:08 to go in the first period.

The Warriors got even more momentum when the Chiefs tried to fake a punt near midfield on its ensuing drive, and was stopped with 4:12 to go in the period.  Lee, who seemed to be hitting his stride after the kickoff return, reeled off about a 20 yard gain to the Piscataway 38 yard line with a little over three minutes to go in the period.  It would be the only offensive bright spot that Franklin had in the first half.  P-Way’s defense then tackled Lee for losses on the next two plays, and shut down the Warriors for the rest of the half.  Franklin would only have 13 yards of total offense in the first two quarters.  Meanwhile, the refurbished Chiefs backfield of Nash, Butler, Tyrell Judson, and Dajan Foat, helped put together a half ending drive for a score.

Judson helped spur the drive with a couple nice runs while Nash capped it with a one yard run through the Franklin defense into the end zone for a score at the 0:48 second mark.  Chris Mosier, who was a perfect 3 of 3 in extra points, which ended up being a huge difference in the game, made the point after for a 14-6 lead at the intermission.  Both teams seemed to struggle getting into a good rhythm in the first half, there were numerous penalties that disrupted the flow of the game.  Franklin seemed to be on its way to getting itself going in the right direction in the third quarter with a time consuming drive that consisted of 16 plays of almost all runs along with a no huddle that kept the stingy Chief defense on the field, and wore it down.

Lee capped the drive with a short touchdown run from the left side, but the Warriors were unable to convert the two point conversion that would have tied the game as a pass was dropped in the end zone.  However, the Chiefs were able to prevail as Butler ran through the middle near midfield, got daylight, and jaunted up the left side of the field for a crucial early fourth quarter touchdown that made the score 21-12.  The combination of missed two point conversions by Franklin and P-Way’s made extra points, put more pressure on a Warriors team that was struggling to make plays offensively.  The Chiefs were able to take advantage, and win the game by nine.

With the victory, Piscataway improved to 7-2-1 on the season while Franklin slipped to 6-4.  The Chiefs and Warriors could be facing each other again in the North Jersey Section 2 Group V Championship if Franklin defeated second ranked Elizabeth and P-Way defeats seventh seeded Bridgewater-Raritan in the semifinals on November 30th.