By Warren Rappleyea
Old Bridge High School’s football team will look to end its season on a winning note when it hosts East Brunswick High School (2-7) Thanksgiving Day.
The third-seeded Knights are coming off a disappointing 42-3 loss to second-seeded Piscataway Township High School Nov. 19 in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group V playoffs.
Things looked good early for Old Bridge, which opened the game by recovering an onside kick at the Piscataway 40-yard line. The Chiefs defense held, and the Knights lined up to punt. Punter Jake Kodros took the snap and completed a 12-yard pass to T.J. Angstadt for a first down to keep the drive alive.
Old Bridge (5-4-1) methodically moved the ball inside the Piscataway 10-yard line but had to settle for a 25-yard field goal by Jon Sammarco and a 3-0 lead.
The host team, stung by a dramatic 24-20 loss at Old Bridge during the regular season, scored two plays later. The pumped-up Chiefs also scored on their second possession and were up, 21-3, early in the second quarter.
Piscataway continued to add to the lead after intermission and shut down the Knights’ running game. Knowing he would be throwing, the Chiefs limited Old Bridge quarterback Artur Sitkowski to just six completions on 17 passes for 53 yards and also intercepted a pass.
“[Piscataway] showed why they’re going to the finals,” Old Bridge coach Anthony Lanzafama said. “That is one good all-around football team. They put us in a position where we had to play from behind early.”
Despite the loss, Old Bridge qualified for the playoffs for the fifth successive season. The Knights bested sixth-seeded Hillsborough High School, 34-21, in the opening-round game.
During the season, Old Bridge edged South Brunswick High School, 31-28, on a late Sammarco field goal and came from behind to down Piscataway. In the latter contest, Nick Sodano scored three touchdowns in five minutes, including the game-winner after stripping the ball from a Chiefs running back.
Old Bridge also defeated both Monroe Township High School and New Brunswick High School and battled Edison High School to a 42-42 tie.
“We certainly had some big moments, and our guys showed that they can bounce back from adversity,” Lanzafama said. “The game [with East Brunswick] is a great rivalry and a great tradition. Right now, we only have a few days to prepare, but we definitely want to end the season with a win.”
