Edison football edges East Brunswick 7-6
Eagles have outside chance at playoffs with a win this weekend
BY SHAWN LAYTON Staff Writer
With a 7-6 win over East Brunswick over the weekend, the Edison High School football team still has an outside shot of qualifying for the North Jersey 2 Group IV state playoffs. After the rain-soaked victory over the Bears, Edison enters this week's matchup with Perth Amboy at 3-4 on the season.

PHOTOS BY ANDREW MILLER staff Above, Edison's Erik Janz runs for a gain during his team's game against East Brunswick. Right, Edison's Zach Tivald is grabbed by East Brunswick's Kevin Norrris. Edison won the rain-soaked game 7-6.

"We were 0-7 at this time last year and playing for pride," Edison head coach Matt Fulham said. "It's nice to be playing with more at stake this late in the season."

The Eagles rallied from a 6-0 deficit in the fourth quarter to upend East Brunswick in a game that pitted Edison against two opponents.

"The two teams battled each other and battled the field conditions," Fulham said. "I thought the game would come down to field position and who could manage to score a touchdown. The weather would not allow for either team to drive the ball 80 yards for a score."

For more than three quarters, the weather appeared to be the clear-cut winner as both teams struggled to get anything going offensively. East Brunswick finally broke the scoreless tie with a oneyard touchdown run from Mike Kelleman. The Bears needed just 22 yards to get into the end zone after defensive back Dustin Schuld picked off a pass from Edison's Erik Janz.

In what would prove to be one of the key plays of the game, Edison's Glen Scott got a hand on the East Brunswick extrapoint attempt, keeping the Eagles just a touchdown away from tying the score.

On the ensuing kick, Edison's Nick Magee sloshed his way through the East Brunswick special teams unit for a 55- yard return, putting the Eagles inside the East Brunswick 25-yard line.

"About 24 yards out, we went with a steady diet of running plays from fullback Danny Walker, running back Zach Tivald and quarterback Erik Janz," Fulham said. "With the game on the line, our guys didn't fold and Zach did a nice job getting the ball over the goal line."

At third-and-goal from the two, Tivald kept the ball himself and managed to cut the distance to the end zone in half. Fulham went with the quarterback sneak a second time, and it paid off as Tivald crossed the line to even the score at 6-6.

With less than two minutes remaining on the game clock, Edison's Frank Leone converted the extra-point attempt to put Edison ahead.

East Brunswick's attempt to move the ball in the game's closing minutes was thwarted by an interception by Edison's Zac Carson.

"Every win feels good, and this one was no different," Fulham said. "The kids believe we can win every game and they never quit. This keeps us alive for the playoffs, and with another win and some help from other outcomes, we could sneak into the postseason."

The Eagles will travel to Perth Amboy for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday night. Perth Amboy enters this week's match-up winless on the season.

"In order to have a shot at the playoffs, we have to win this week's game," Fulham said. "We'll need to continue playing physical defense and to limit our mistakes."