Northern Burlington rolls past Ewing at TCNJ
EWING >> Under the bright lights at The College of New Jersey, the Northern Burlington football team found its groove in the second quarter of Friday night’s game against Ewing and roared to a 28-0 victory over Ewing to improve to a perfect 2-0 on the season.
“Our offense is pretty explosive when we get going,” said Northern Burlington coach Jule Dolci. “It’s taken us a bit to get going in these first two games, but I thought our offense moved the ball well. We just have to get better with execution.”
After a few missed chances to score in the first quarter, the Greyhounds offense got things rolling in the second quarter thanks to its defense.
A fumble recovery by David Geibel off Ewing quarterback Matteo Rodridguez’s fumble set up Northern Burlington at the Blue Devils’ 21-yard line, leading to a 24-yard field goal by Tyler Leonard to put the Greyhounds on the board first up 3-0.
The Northern Burlington defense got a big three and out the next possession with Jonathan Lartey picking up a huge sack on third down.
Following a blocked punt by the Northern Burlington special teams unit to set the Greyhounds at the Ewing four-yard line, Lartey ran in the game’s first touchdown from three yards out to make it 10-0 with 3 minutes to go in the first half.
“I knew I needed to make a play to help us get the ball back,” Lartey said. “Just balled out and did my best to help keep us rolling.”
Another quick three and out forced by the Northern Burlington defense gave the Greyhounds offense a chance to extend their lead before the half and quarterback Michael Caloiaro took full advantage of it for Northern Burlington.
Hooking up with his tight end Brayden Messinger on a 23-yard catch down the seam to begin the drive, Caloiaro found his tight end once again to finish off the drive with three-yard touchdown pass off a sweet play action fake with 27 seconds left in the half to put Northern Burlington up 16-0 going into halftime.
“When we are locked in and rolling, our offense is tough to handle,” Dolci said.
Caloiaro and Messinger connected again for a big 27yard first down catch that got Northern Burlington rolling to begin the second half.
It led to Caloiaro finding a wide open Victor Mushinski streaking down the middle of the field and hitting his senior wide out for a 70-yard touchdown to increase the Northern Burlington lead to 22-0.
“We got what we wanted,” Caloiaro said. “We ran trips and left Bryce (Barron) alone on the right. They were worried about him and that left another person open to throw the ball to.”
Caloiaro struck again for his third touchdown of the night to end the third quarter for the Northern Burlington.
Off another perfect play action fake, Caloiaro found wide receiver Bryce Barron in the corner of the end zone for a 10-yard score to Northern Burlington up 28-0.
Caloiaro commended his coaching staff for the great play calling to help set up both of his touchdown passes off of play action.
“We pounded the ball well and it forced (Ewing) to change their defense,” Caloiaro said. “Now I can pull the ball and look to throw to one of our open guys. Great play calling.”
Caloiaro now has five touchdown passes on the season.
The Northern Burlington defense forced three turnovers in shutting down the Ewing offense, picking up an interception by Andrew Zimmerman and another fumble recovery in the fourth quarter.
Northern Burlington only gave up 13 points in 30-13 win over Pemberton in its season opener last week.
The Greyhounds will next gear up for a big home game against Willingboro next week, while Ewing will look again to win its first game of the season against Seneca.
Follow Steven Bassin on Twitter @SBassin_Sports Northern Burlington (2-0) 0 16 12 0 28 Ewing (0-2) 0 0 0 0 0
NB - Leonard 24-yard field goal
NB - Lartey 3-yard run (Leonard kick) NB - Caloiaro 3-yard pass to Messinger (FG No Good)
NB - Caloiaro 70-yard pass to Mushinski (FG No Good)
NB - Caloiaro 10-yard pass to Barron (FG No Good)