The Dunellen football team was without Chiekezie Ogbuewu for its season opener Friday night against Dayton. With just 24 players available, it was certainly likely to be a detriment to the Destroyers’ chances against the Bulldogs.

Well, his teammates did just fine without him, thanks very much.

After holding Dayton to a three-and-out on its first possession, Dunellen got an 81-yard touchdown run by Elijah Duplesis on its first play from scrimmage to take a 6-0 lead (they failed on the two-point run) that they would never relinquish.

While Dunellen (1-0) held Dayton to 87 yards of total offense in the first half – and just one first down – the Destroyers added another score late in the first quarter on a 10-yard run by Aidan Sangiray.

Dayton (0-1) cut it to 12-8 on a 51-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter by quarterback John John DeSarno, but that was all they’d get.

While Sangiray was rushing toward a career high 153 yards on 22 carries, he added a one-yard TD run in the third to give his team an 18-7 lead that would hold until the final horn.

Click below for postgame recation from Dunellen head coach Dave DeNapoli and senior Aidan Sangiray: