In a game that pit two of the GreaterMiddlesex Conference’s top offensive teams against each other, defense carried the day as the South Brunswick High School football team edged Old Bridge High School, 14-7, in the NJSIAA Central Group V semifinals.
With the victory, the Vikings earned a trip to the Dec. 8 sectional championship game at Rutgers University’s High Point Solutions Stadium, where they will meet the undefeated top-seed, Manalapan High School. The Braves downed Hunterdon Central Regional High School, 17-7, in the other Group V semifinal game.
South Brunswick looked good in the first half — piling up almost 350 yards in total offense — and moved the ball deep into Old Bridge territory on three occasions. Like the old Fats Domino hit, The Knights defense heard the Vikings knocking, but would not let them into the end zone.
Coach Joe George’s team took the opening kickoff and marched to the Old Bridge 18-yard line before the Knights’ defense held. On its next possession, South Brunswick made it inside the 10-yard line before a fumble halted the drive. A third trip down the field was hampered by a dropped pitch-out and stalled at the Knights’ 15-yard line.
With four-and-a-half minutes remaining in the second quarter, South Brunswick finally got through the door when Dahrae Ford, who had ran for 134 yards on the night, scored on a 6-yard run. The touchdown was set up by a 30-yard completion pass from quarterback T.J. Perkowski to wideout T.J. Taylor.
With momentum seemingly on their side, the Vikings kicked off to open the second half. Old Bridge, however, was far from finished. Coach Anthony Lanzafama’s Knights came alive. The defense limited the Vikings to 5 yard to slow the home team’s pace.
Meanwhile, the Knights’ offense, which had one second quarter drive that resulted in a missed field goal, began moving the ball. A little over a minute into the final period, Old Bridge culminated a nine-play, 73- yard drive with a Vin Gargano to Dwayne Trawick touchdown pass that covered 15 yards. Ed Mish’s PAT knotted the score.
The momentum had seemingly shifted to the visitors as South Brunswick got the ball back on its own 20-yard line. Thanks to Ford, who had runs of 5 yards, 6 yards and 51 yards on the drive, the Vikings were back in the lead six plays later. Dion Hooper’s 4-yard run concluded the drive with 8:28 remaining.
After forcing an Old Bridge punt, George’s team got the ball back with 6:37 to play. The Knights would not see the ball again, as South Brunswick ate up the clock and moved all the way to the Old Bridge’s 2-yard line as time ran out.
“Old Bridge played a great game,” George said. “Fortunately we were able to score when we needed to and our defense did an outstanding job.”
The Vikings limited Old Bridge to just 186 yards of total offense. Linebacker Alex Berkuta was in on six tackles to lead the team.