Big Win for City’s Blue Bishops
By TOM CARDINALE
Not even the drizzling rain that fell on and off during last Saturday’s game could slow down the Asbury Park Blue Bishops, who defeated the Point Beach Garnet Gulls 34-14 to improve to 2-1 on the season.
The Bishops trailed 7-0 after the first quarter but took over the momentum in the second. The swing was started when the Bishops recovered a fumble at the Gulls 3-yard line, leading to a quick rushing touchdown from Rashawn Roberts to tie the game.
Less than two minutes later, Will Johnson intercepted a pass by Pt. Beach’s Shane Ferguson, giving Asbury Park possession at the Pt. Beach 27-yard line. After converting on fourth down with a long run, Bishops QB Will Johnson dropped back to pass but came under heavy pressure. Just as he seemed to be wrapped up, he found senior Kaeshon McMillan on a desperation pitch that turned into a long touchdown run to give Big Blue the 14-7 lead with just under six minutes to go in the first half.
On the ensuing Gulls drive the Asbury defense once again forced a turnover, as senior captain Knowryl Hammary stripped the ball carrier. The Bishops took over with excellent field position again, starting at the Pt. Beach 24-yard line.
The Bishops closed out their second quarter scoring explosion with a touchdown hookup from Johnson to senior Derrell Moore and went into the locker room at halftime up 20-7.
The second half began a little slower for the Bishops, as Johnson fumbled on their first drive to set up a long Gulls’ completion down to the Asbury 1-yard line. Shane Ferguson finished the drive with a QB sneak to bring the Gulls back within a touchdown at 20-14.
However, that would be the end of Pt. Beach’s rally, as the Asbury Park offense continued to click. Their next drive was highlighted by a 54-yard touchdown run by Johnson, who was sprung by a crushing block in the backfield by Roberts. The defense buckled down, led by senior Gibran Trott-Gaines and Hammary, and shutdown every Pt. Beach drive to put away the victory.
Sophomore QB Jamal Small came in late for Johnson and added a touchdown, slipping through the line on a quarterback sneak to close out the 34-14 victory for Asbury.
Having already surpassed last year’s win total, the Bishops appear to be back on track to the success that many former players and students remember from the glory days of Asbury Park football. With QB Will Johnson and RB George Stephens in the fold for one and two more season, respectively, the Blue Bishops appear poised to contend once again.
The 2-1 Bishops go up against the 0-3 Keyport Raiders next, who have scored only 34 points in their three games this season.
Email Tom Cardinale at tom@thecoaster.net.
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