Phillipsburg and Aquinas still 1 and 2 in Marcus Borden’s Week 4 Big Central Top Ten… plus rankings for BCC West, Middlesex and Union Counties

My Friday night game saw St. Thomas Aquinas improve to 4-1, continuing their dominance in league play by winning their 34th consecutive Big Central Conference game versus a talented Elizabeth squad, 35-21.

Like two heavyweight boxers who traded punches in a highly-anticipated matchup , Elizabeth took the first shot on the opening kickoff with senior placekicker David Lazo recovering his own kick.

The Minutemen would then proceed to drive down the field mixing the run and pass for a little over five minutes in the the first quarter but the Trojans forced a fumble at their eight-yard line ending the Elizabeth scoring threat.

After a short three-yard jab by running back Ian Roberts, the senior speedster followed up with a 89-yard body blow as he raced down the Homecoming sideline putting Aquinas up 7-0 at 5:56 in the first quarter.

Once again, Elizabeth would mix the run and pass, hoping to limit the touches for the Aquinas’ high octane offense. However, they were forced to punt with just eight seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Aquinas needed just two plays before sophomore quarterback Zymere Weaver would land a haymaker on the Elizabeth defense, as he rolled right and cut back left down the visitor sideline for a 78-yard touchdown run and subsequent two-point conversion, extending the Trojan lead to 15-0 at the 10:58 mark of the second quarter.

On the ensuing Elizabeth drive junior quarterback A’rique Fleming would look to land a few punches of his own with quick passes and his own body shots as he punished would-be tacklers while methodically moving the chains into the red zone. Fellow classmate running back Jamiir Gregory would then finish the flurry with a 10-yard touchdown run at 6:04 in the second quarter closing the gap to 15-7.

Aquinas wasted little time regaining a two-score advantage with consecutive combos by Roberts, the second a 74-yard jaunt for his second touchdown and a 21-7 lead after the failed two-point conversion.

Neither team threatened before halftime as they headed to their locker room to make halftime adjustments.

Elizabeth looked poised to score, coming out after halftime, as the Minutemen marched down the field in four plays into the red zone. It was, however, a jarring hit by linebacker Dante Jennings that caused the Elizabeth ball carrier to cough up the ball into the arms of Anwar Witherspoon, who took it to the house for a score. But the play was called back due to defensive holding.

Aquinas’ Weaver and company wasted little time as the the nifty signal caller hit a wide open Tristan Bester on a 76-yard toss down the middle of the field for a 28-7 lead at 8:31 in the third quarter.

With neither team wanting to kick deep to the opposition’s returners, Aquinas was forced to re-kick after the first squib kick went out of bounds. The second attempt bounced directly into the hands of Eric Cespedes, who took it near the Aquinas sideline across the field to the visitor’s side and back across the grain to the Aquinas 11-yard line.

Three consecutive runs with the last a six-yard dive into the end zone by Fleming at 6:17 remaining in the third quarter brought the Minutemen closer making it Aquinas 28, Elizabeth 14.

Elizabeth would try to recover the ensuing onside kick with Lazo being called for illegal touching.

Aquinas would get the ball near midfield and adeptly mix the run and pass setting up Witherspoon for a 13-yard Wildcat touchdown run as he burst up the middle blasting his way through two Elizabeth tacklers for a commanding 35-14 lead with 2:58 remaining in the third period.

Once again, Elizabeth’s returner – this time Qua’Yon Williams – nearly returned the kickoff for a score, but a penalty moved the ball back to midfield. The quarter would end with Elizabeth still driving and Fleming scoring on a 14-yard run with 10:30 remaining in the game and the Trojans up 35-21.

St. Thomas would milk the clock advancing the ball down field and coming up a half yard short of a touchdown on fourth down.

Elizabeth – being down two scores – would valiantly try to score quickly, but the Trojans prevent defense and constant pressure proved too much for the visitors as the final horn sounded, giving St. Thomas their fourth win of the season.

Here are my Week 4 Top Tens for the entire Big Central Conference, plus the BCC West, Middlesex County and Union County: