The Sayreville High School football team will travel to South Brunswick tomorrow night for a rematch with the Vikings — this time with a trip to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV final on the line.
The two teams met in the season opener at Sayreville, and South Brunswick came away with a 14-7 triumph. The visitors generally controlled the line of scrimmage, but Sayreville’s defense came up big, forcing turnovers on several occasions. South Brunswick has scored 27 points or more in all of its other games.
Since then, South Brunswick has gone undefeated to earn the top seed in Central Jersey Group IV. The Vikings’ high-powered offense has racked up 333 points, overshadowing a defense that has allowed just 86 points. The Vikings overwhelmed Hillsborough, 63-14, in the opening playoff round.
Sayreville recovered from the opening loss to post an 8-2 mark and earn the fifth seed. The only other blemish was a 28-0 home loss to Piscataway. However, the Chiefs needed that game to qualify for the state playoffs, and the Bombers were already in.
Sayreville War Memorial High School quarterback Isaiah Cureton throws a pass downfield against Jackson Memorial during the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV playoff game played in Jackson on Nov. 11. The Bombers advanced with a 21-13 victory. PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Sayreville will have to find a way to shut down all-purpose back Jevon Tyree and fellow backs Darrell Harper and Dion Hooper. Vikings coach Rick Mantz likes to alternate between quarterbacks Dan Gorzynski and T.J. Perkowski.
“They’re a solid, well-coached team,” Sayreville coach George Najjar said. “We have to make them work for their yardage and prevent big plays.”
Sayreville is also sporting a different look with Isaiah Cureton operating out of the shotgun at quarterback, a new twist that concerns South Brunswick coach Rick Mantz. “When Cureton was a wide receiver you could contain him by keeping the ball away from him,” Mantz said. “Now he touches the ball on every play, and you also have to worry about [Delon]
Sayreville’s Alex Yanuzzelli (middle) takes the ball from quarterback Isaiah Cureton (9) and heads upfield during the Bombers’ NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV first-round game against Jackson Memorial. The Bombers advanced to the semifinals with a 21-13 win in Jackson on Nov. 11. Stephenson.”
The Bombers are coming off a 21-13 win against Jackson Memorial. The Jaguars jumped ahead 6-0 to the delight of the home crown, but the visitors took a 7-6 lead before the first quarter ended. Delon Stephenson carried it in for Sayreville and Cureton kicked the extra point.
Jackson regained the lead in the second, and
Sayreville answered back with time dwindling down in the half. Cureton connected with Stephenson for 28 yards and a TD with less than 30 seconds left to send the Bombers into intermission with a one-point lead, 14-13.
Following a scoreless third quarter, the Bombers lengthened their lead when Alex Yanuzzelli capped a 77-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run. Yanuzzelli, who ran for 74 yards on the night, also hauled in a pass from Cureton for 44 yards on the drive. Cureton made a huge play to keep the drive alive, connecting with Jon Bracero on a fourthand nine play for just enough yardage to pick up a first down.
Cureton completed 12 of 19 passes for 135 yards. The Jackson defense managed to hold Stephenson to 56 rushing yards, but the Sayreville senior made up for it in other ways. His 14-yard punt return set up the Bombers’ first touchdown, and he caught eight passes for 60 yards.
“We have a lot of options on offense, and we’re going to need them against South Brunswick,” Najjar said.