Trenton’s strong 1st season under Hyslop ends in quarterfinals
OLD BRIDGE » Greg Hyslop will always remember a team of fighters during his first season as Trenton Central’s head football coach.
These were the Tornadoes that refused to pack it in after a 1-3 start to the season, that dominated reigning Central Jersey Group IV champion Allentown in October and that persevered on a frigid road trip Friday night.
After sixth-seeded Trenton fell to third-seeded Old Bridge, 24-6, on Lombardi Field in the Central Jersey Group V quarterfinals, one of Old Bridge’s coaches personally came over to congratulate Hyslop on his players taking part in the classiest hand-shake line the Knights have experienced all year.
“It was the greatest season I’ve ever been a part of because of those kids,” Hyslop said. “They fought ‘til the end. We were ripping balls out in the second half, getting fumbles. We scored a touchdown on fourth down. The game was kind of out of hand at that point, and our kids just kept fighting.
“That’s all I ask out of them is to just keep fighting for the 48 minutes, and that’s what they did today. They have nothing at all to be ashamed of this season.”
Old Bridge was simply more fundamentally sound in all three phases, beginning with a tripleoption offense that Trenton hadn’t faced all season.
The Knights rushed for 190 yards in the first half, including 54 during a lengthy second quarter driving ending with a 1-yard touchdown by Chancellor Cooper on fourth down. It was a backbreaking series for Trenton, which had twice stuffed Old Bridge at the 1-yard line.
Elusive Old Bridge quarterback Anthony Bimbo had touchdowns of 25-plus at critical moments in the first and fourth quarters, even as Trenton’s defense played well at times in the freezing temperatures.
Trenton recovered three fumbles, and Ji’Ayir Brown and Naza Washington both had sacks in the second half.
Playing some quarterback in the fourth quarter, Brown took a direct snap 30 yards and then connected with Tommire Neal for a 14-yard touchdown pass to cut Trenton’s deficit to 17-6 with 4:02 remaining.
“We’re building off of what we did this year,” Hyslop said. “Hopefully I’m making an impact on these kids as much as they’re making an impact on me.”
Just before halftime with Trenton down 14-0, Shaun Balkcom’s fumble recovery gave Trenton the ball at Old Bridge’s 28-yard line.
Runs by Donovan Ford and Messiah Cook moved the chains for the Tornadoes, but on 4th-and-13 from the 20 with 1:32 remaining in the half, Ford opted to scramble rather than try a pass downfield. He was only able to gain 6 yards, and Old Bridge ran out the rest of the clock.
After Trenton went three-andout on the opening drive, a poor punt into the wind gave Old Bridge strong field position at Trenton’s 32-yard line.
The Knights’ ball-control offense immediately found holes in Trenton’s defense with runs of 4, 3 and then 25 yards by quarterback Anthony Imbimbo for a touchdown with 9:05 left in the first quarter.
Two penalties doomed Trenton’s second drive, and then the teams exchanged turnovers with Old Bridge fumbling and then Trenton promptly throwing an interception.
“The elements were the same for them, too, so I’m not going to say it was that,” Hyslop said. “Execution. They had a good football team. They just executed better than us in the first half more so. We got it together a little bit in the second half.
“They did some things we weren’t expecting. It’s three big plays it looked like. And when they hit those big plays, that’s what happens.”
Trenton (6-4) Old Bridge (7-2) First Quarter OB— Second Quarter OB— Third Quarter OB— Fourth Quarter T— OB— 0 7 0 7
Imbimbo 25 run (Caruso kick) Cooper 1 run (Caruso kick) Caruso 24 field goal
0 6— 3 7 — 6 24
Neal 14 pass from Brown (kick blocked) Imbimbo 29 run (Caruso kick)