Jahmir Beal of Woodbridge crosses the goal line for a 80-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage at Colonia on September 21, 2024. (Photo: Marcus Borden)
In the first quarter, it looked like things were getting late early, as Yogi Berra would say.
No. 1 Woodbridge got an 80-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage, and with Jeremiah Allen scoring twice more – including an interception return for a touchdown – the Barrons had a 21-0 lead at No. 9 Colonia just midway through the first quarter.
But the Patriots answered back. Dylan Chiera found Kyle Bell for a 22-yard TD strike to cut it to 21-6 before the first period was over.
After another TD, Anthony Garofalo kicked a 33-yard field goal to get it to 21-16 before Bryan Anderson answered right back with a TD catch off a pass from his twin bother Derek just before the half to make it 28-16 Barrons at the break.
Woodbridge, though, would continue to add points, and eventually keep Colonia at bay, en route to a 42-39 win in a battle of undefeated teams for the PBA Bragging Rights Trophy. It was also win No. 500 overall in the history of the Woodbridge program.
The Andersons hooked up again nearly three minutes into the third, which ended 35-16 Barrons, and it set up a wild fourth.
Kyle Bell ran one in from a yard out to bring Colonia to within 11 after a successful two-point try, and then Chiera hit Julien Jones from 19 yards out for a score to make it 25-32 with just under seven minutes left.
Woodbridge would add one more – Anderson finding Sincere Barnett for a 70-yard TD strike, and Chiera finding Nygel Hill for a seven-yard touchdown to make it 42-39 with 4:04 left, but that would be as close as they would get.
An on-side kick try by the Pats was recovered by the Barrons, who were able to run out the clock.
Woodbridge improves to 4-0, making a strong case for No. 1 in the Central Jersey Sports Radio Top Ten, with No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas also in the mix after top-ranked Phillipsburg lost 28-21 at Ridge Friday night. Woodbridge will host Linden next week.
Colonia falls to 3-1 and will host Perth Amboy next week.
Click below for postgame reaction from Central Jersey Sport Radio’s Marcus Borden, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:
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