BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer
PERTH AMBOY — Heading into Friday night’s matchup against Perth Amboy, the Edison High School football team was looking to break a 15-game losing streak that began in the 2001 season.
Facing another winless team, the Eagles had high hopes to break the losing streak and give second-year head coach Vin Gioffre his first victory.
Led by its workhorse, fullback Ed Kidney, the Eagles kept the game close for most of the first half. Kidney had 16 first-half carries and rushed for 98 yards in the first two quarters. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound junior found cracks in the line of scrimmage thanks in large part to the blocking of senior guard Joseph Reilly.
Once past the line of scrimmage, Kidney broke tackles and ran over many Panthers defenders all evening. Kidney would finish with a game high of 150 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown.
Unfortunately for Edison, Kidney’s first-half score would be the only points the Eagles would put on the scoreboard in the 42-7 loss to the Panthers.
Perth Amboy earned its first victory of the year because of the athleticism of punt returner Naquan Jenkins and the poise of freshman quarterback James Harrell.
Harrell threw for 170 yards and three touchdowns and Jenkins electrified the home crowd with a 75-yard punt return for a score in the first quarter.
"The punt return was huge for them," said Eagles coach Vin Gioffre. "The big play has been our Achilles Heel all year. Our defense had some tremendous stops tonight, but Perth Amboy always came up with the big yardage plays when they needed it."For a football program that has a history of success, the losing streak has been tough for the coaches and players. Just three years ago, the Eagles played in the state championship game.
"We have seniors on this team that haven’t experienced a victory. Their junior varsity and freshmen teams didn’t win a game either," said Gioffre.
Despite the losses, Gioffre has brought a new ethic and a "commitment to perfection" to the Eagles team. Facing a drop in numbers despite a healthy school population, Gioffre and his coaching staff had to overcome a lack in size.
"We’ve asked our guys to be committed to perfection this year to compensate for a lack in size and numbers," Gioffre said. "We have small problems that every coach talks about. Tonight we missed too many tackles and we stress the need to gang tackle."
Although the team remains winless, the Eagles have come a long way in the eyes of Gioffre.
"This team has great character and dedication," Gioffre said. "We have pride in our program and our school. There is a real sense of family among the guys and we just need to get over the hump. I’m coaching young men and not just football players and I have a group of fine young men."
The Eagles plan to regroup this week after the disappointing loss to Perth Amboy with a bye. On Oct. 24 the Eagles will face conference powerhouse and the unbeaten Piscataway High School.
"We play well when we are all on the same page," Kidney said. "The breakdowns occur when we are unfocused and inconsistent. We will have to be focused in two weeks when we meet Piscataway. We need to be play well on every play. We’ll be ready for the challenge."
The Metuchen Bulldogs took on one of the GMC’s most prolific offense teams on Saturday in Spotswood, as saw firsthand just how potent the Chargers offensive attack can be, falling 52-3.
Spotswood’s high-powered offense was as good as advertised, as the Chargers scored on their first six possessions, with five TDs coming through the air. However, the Chargers were just as prolific on the ground, led by Nelson Stryker’s 122 yards on just nine carries.
It was a statement game for the Chargers, who will take on No. 2 New Brunswick on Friday in a game that will likely decide the Blue Division title.
As for Metuchen, the Bulldogs’ lone score was a 23-yard field goal, as they were unable to match Spotswood’s depth on either side of the ball.
The 1-4 Bulldogs will look to bounce back on Saturday when they host a Dunellen team that is also struggling at 1-4. Game time is 1 p.m.