Chatham High School (N.J.) football team played one of finest games in recent memory, controlling the contest on both sides of the ball, while forcing several turnovers in its 44-7 rain-soaked, lopsided win over Livingston (2-3) Saturday night at home in the finale of Cougar weekend before a packed crowd.
While Chatham (3-1) exploded for 44 points, Cougar head coach Evan Picariello said his defense performed very well, winning the turnover battle against the Lancers while limiting them to a single touchdown.
“Any time you get a team to turn the ball over four or five times, you’re going to be on the winning side of things,” Picariello said.
As far as overall play, Chatham left no doubt who was in control of the contest, despite the inclement weather conditions, Picariello noted.
“I thought our team took care of business today,” he said. “We were very discipline in certain spots. It was wet out there, so games like this can get a little sloppy. I thought we did a good job taking care of the football.”
On third and long for the Lancers, senior two-way lineman Will Colvin recovered a fumble in the end zone, followed by senior quarterback Will Allen converting the two-point rush for a Cougar 8-0 lead with three minutes to go in the first quarter.
“It was a surreal feeling,” Colvin said of registering his first career high school touchdown. “It was just amazing scoring that touchdown. It kicked started everything (for us).
But Livingston drew the contest to within a point at 8-7 early in the second period.
However, junior tight end Hunter Bigham bolted off the line of scrimmage and corralled an 11-yard touchdown pass to give Chatham a 14-7 advantage with 7:28 to go in the second quarter.
Next score, Allen hit paydirt on a two-yard run to widen the Cougars’ margin to 14 points with 4:32 remaining in the first half. Allen has looked solid behind center, playing pretty much mistake-free football.
“Will Allen again, just running our offense, doing what he’s coached to do,” Picariello said of his signal caller’s performance this season. “And we’re having some success out there. He’s making good reads, making good throws. Like I said, he’s running the offense really well right now.”
Then, senior Ryan Carey picked off the ball deep in Lancers’ territory. Three plays later, Allen found Bigham for a 12-yard TD toss for a 28-7 lead with 3:12 left in the second period.
Will Allen completes pass to receiver out of the back field.
“I saw the QB throwing my way,” Carey said, recalling the interception. “I was staring him down the whole way. I just jumped in and made the pick.”
Bigham, a two-sport athlete, enjoyed himself quite the tilt, scoring two touchdowns, making an interception, and recording a half of sack in the victory.
“Will was giving me the ball, and our team seems to be clicking on all cylinders,” Bingham said. “So, we were able to get the dub.”
Chatham’s special teams refused to be left out of the festivities, as juniors Tommy Douglas and Jase Catullo combined to block a punt which resulted in the ball exiting the end zone for a safety and 30-7 advantage with a little over two minutes to go in the first half.
After starting with good field position on the ensuing kickoff, the Cougars quickly marched into the red zone. Soon thereafter, junior Caden Gabriele busted through for a seven-yard touchdown rush to close out the half ahead by a commanding thirty-point advantage.
Gabriele added his second rushing TD on a five-yard score, that pushed Chatham’s lead to 44-7 with 8:15 to go in the third quarter.
The Cougars travel to Roxbury Friday at 7:00 p.m.
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NY NJ Sports World/Brooklyn Sports World 