COLONIA, NJ–In perhaps one of the best games of the year, if not the best game of the year, third ranked Carteret got all it could handle from fifth ranked Colonia in a battle of unbeatens that may have determined the winner of the GMC White this season. The Ramblers, which entered the game 6-0, took a 19-0 halftime lead only to have Colonia, which came into the contest at 7-0, rally to tie the game at 19-19 in the early fourth quarter. Carteret then made two fumbles in its own territory, but was able to keep Colonia out of the end zone before Tyler Rodriguez engineered an 85 yard drive for the winning score and two point conversion in the 27-19 win. The Patriots drove down the field for a chance to tie, but on a 4th and 4 from the Carteret five yard line, Barneys was sacked, and the Ramblers were able to hang on. Below are some notes from the game.
Pre-Game Notes
Both Carteret and Colonia enter the game undefeated and ranked in the GMC Gridiron Top Five with the Ramblers ranked third, and the Patriots ranked fifth. Carteret is 6-0 overall and 5-0 in the White division including a 41-13 victory over Bishop Ahr at home last week.
Colonia entered the game with a 7-0 mark including a 6-0 mark in division. The Patriots defeated Raritan by the score of 13-3 last week. Colonia is looking to go undefeated for the first time in school history while Carteret is looking to go undefeated for the first time since 1992.
First Quarter
10:07–CAR–after a nice kickoff return by Jerod Johnson to midfield, the Ramblers go three and out and punt.
8:39–COL–go three and out and punt.
7:01–CAR–1st timeout of half.
6:07–CAR–benefitting from COL roughing the passer and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties get deep in Patriot territory, but are called for holding on an apparent Jerod Johnson TD run.
5:52–CAR–Tyler Rodriguez throws a 22 yard TD pass to Brandon Gilder on a 1st and 20. COL blocks extra point for a 6-0 CAR lead.
5:35–COL–takes ensuing kickoff.
4:28–COL–gets first 1st down of the game.
3:32–COL–forced to punt after going three plays without another first down.
1:18–CAR–Rodriguez completes pass left to Fruscella for a first down.
0:41–CAR–Rodriguez completes a long pass of about 30 yards downfield to Fruscella along the CAR sideline for a first down.
0:06–CAR–after being called for a holding penalty on an apparent TD run by Jerod Johnson, Johnson makes a nifty run up the middle to the COL one yard line to end the quarter.
Second Quarter
11:42–COL–injury–OFF timeout–CAR stopped at the one yard line.
11:36–CAR–scores an apparent TD on fourth down on a pass by Tyler Rodriguez, but penalty on the play because the pass is over the line of scrimmage. Loss of down. COL ball.
11:23–COL–gets first down on pass from Trent Barneys to Bethea.
10:59–COL–benefitting from offside penalties by CAR, and a no huddle, get another first down on a run by Jake Pero.
8:59–COL–after getting the ball deep into CAR territory, COL shoots itself with penalties.
7:56–CAR–2nd timeout of the half.
7:47–CAR–Jerod Johnson runs left toward COL sideline for a nice gain.
7:20–CAR–Rodriguez runs about 75 yards on a keeper for a TD. Extra point good fora 13-0 lead.
6:25–COL–stopped a yard short of a first down on a 3rd and 4 pass and forced to punt.
5:51–CAR–gets the ball.
5:33–CAR–Rodriguez throws a screen pass left to Johnson who finds a way into open field for about a 45 yard TD. Extra point is blocked for a 19-0 CAR lead.
5:19–COL–Jake Pero runs 16 yards for a first down.
4:00–CAR–Anthony Fredericks intercepts Barneys pass near midfield on a 2nd and 1 play.
2:39–CAR–goes three and out, and punts ball to COL 19.
2:26–COL–takes over.
1:18–COL–Barneys completes short pass on 3rd down for a 1st down.
0:52–COL–Pero runs up the middle for 14 yards and a 1st down. COL–timeout.
0:12–COL–timeout.
0:00–COL–Barneys lines up in slot formation, but long pass downfield to about the CAR 20 goes off COL player’s shoulder pad, and incomplete.
CAR leads 19-0 at the half.
Both teams have moved the ball well, but Carteret has done a better job. Penalties have hampered both teams, but the flags have hurt Colonia more. The Ramblers also have a takeaway thanks to a second quarter interception by Anthony Fredericks. Carteret has also continued to make big plays on offense with a 75 yard TD run by Rodriguez, and a 45 yard TD pass from Rodriguez to Johnson. Rodriguez also completed a 25 to 30 yard TD pass to open the scoring, and another long pass to Erik Fruscella late in the first period.
Third Quarter
Time is being kept on the field.
COL takes the opening 2nd half kickoff, and takes it to its own 40 yard line.
COL–scores a TD on a run by #15. Matt Ribiero adds the extra point for a 19-7 CAR lead.
COL–on the drive, the Patriots go 60 yards in 8 plays including a 14yard run by Pero, a 12 yard run by C.J. Cimulluca
COL–Napoleon picks off CAR pass, and returns it back to about the CAR 30 yard line. COL–called for a block in the back penalty–marked back at the CAR 48 yard line.
COL–Barneys passes to Cimulluca for a first down to the CAR 38. Then on a 3rd and 9, Barneys completed another pass to Mike Cottino to the CAR 25. Pero then ran for a big gain to the CAR 6 yard line before Barneys connected with Al Bethea in the end zone for a TD. Ribiero’s extra point was no good for a CAR 19-13 lead.
COL–after a 3 and out by CAR, COL gets the ball back at about its own 40 yard line, and begins another scoring march that is highlighted by a 15 yard run from Barneys to the CAR 15 yard line.
COL–ended the third inside the CAR 5 yard line.
Fourth Quarter
COL–Pats open the 4th quarter with a TD run from about the 1 yard line.
CAR–takes the ensuing kickoff, but fumble a play or two later at their own 42 yard line.
COL–isn’t able to take advantage of the field position and forced to punt.
CAR–takes COL punt deep in their own territory, and then fumble the ball on a run right to the COL sideline. Pats get ball with good field position again.
COL–again can’t take advantage of the opportunity, and go three and out. Forced to punt.
CAR–takes the punt at about its own 15 yard line. Start what would be about an 85 yard scoring drive with a long pass of about 30 yards from Rodriguez to Fruscella along the COL sideline to the CAR 45 yard line.
CAR–then gets a COL penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, and eventually score on a two yard run by Jerod Johnson. Rodriguez throws a pass to convert the two point conversion for a 27-19 lead.
COL–takes the ensuing kickoff, and drive deep into CAR territory. The Patriots convert a 4th down play to keep the drive alive at about the CAR 15 yard line. However, on a 4th and 4 play at the CAR 5 yard line, Barneys is sacked to halt the drive.
CAR–then takes a knee to run out the clock for the 27-19 win.