Ewing snaps losing streak in important game versus Hamilton
EWING » With only two weeks remaining in the regular season after this weekend, Friday night was critical for both the Ewing and Hamilton football teams.
Since the two schools are currently tied in power points for the final playoff spot in Central Jersey Group III, it is likely only one will be returning to the postseason one year after both made appearances in sectional semifinals.
Advantage Blue Devils following their 20-6 triumph at home over the Hornets, which snapped a four-game losing streak with two more winnable games coming up against Princeton and Hightstown.
Ewing (3-4) found a way to pull through in the second half despite committing 10 penalties on the night, including four during one first-half defensive series which handed Hamilton (3-4) 50 yards on the Hornets’ only scoring drive of the game.
But Ewing nearly doubled Hamilton in total offense (208 to 105) and produced two timely touchdowns in the second half. Caleb Stokes snatched one of the Blue Devils’ two turnovers in the game with a nineyard pick six. Tywayne Reed churned out 66 rushing yards over the final two quarters including a 10-yard score late in the third quarter that made it 17-6.
And Matthew Hunkele continues to prove he is one of most lethal kickers in the area, drilling both of his field goal tries from distances of 40 yards in the first half and 22 yards in the second half.
Defensively, Ewing held Hamilton to a three-and-out on four of the Hornets’ nine drives. Two of the other five drives were turnovers that led to 14 points for the Blue Devils.
Obiefuna Nnaemeka-ezeigbo and Chris Seifert were among the Blue Devils who recorded sacks and dominated up front. Jaden Holman’s fumble recovery late in the third quarter set up a 41-yard scoring drive.
The key play on offense for Ewing during that sequence was a 31-yard screen pass from Jacob Basich to Reed in which Basich quickly identified a Hamilton blitz and stayed calm with a quick strike in the pocket.
The first half was scoreless up until Hunkele’s first field goal gave Ewing a 3-0 lead with 4:09 remaining in the second quarter.
Then the Blue Devils unraveled with undisciplined play, committing four penalties for 50 yards to help Hamilton drive 75 yards for the only touchdown of the half.
Facing fourth-and-2 at Ewing’s 48, the Hornets lined up with a shotgun empty set with five receivers and were able to draw the Blue Devils offside. The very next play, Ewing committed two dead ball penalties resulting in 30 yards for Hamilton following a 2-yard rush to the edge by running back Cire Peters.
With Hamilton advanced all the way to the red zone, quarterback Hezekiah Patterson lobbed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Chris Charles on a fade route for a 6-3 Hornets lead with 1:39 remaining until halftime.
But that was all Hamilton would muster offensively, totaling only 45 yards in the second half as Ewing played more disciplined down the stretch to keep the Blue Devils’ playoff hopes alive.
Hamilton (3-4) Ewing (3-4) Second Quarter E— H— Third Quarter E— E— Fourth Quarter E— 0 0 6 3
Hunkele 40 field goal
Charles 11 pass from Patterson (kick failed)
Stokes 22 interception return (Hunkele kick) Reed 10 run (Hunkele kick)
Hunkele 22 field goal
0 14 0 — 3 — 6 20