Nyekir Eato – Central Jersey Sports Radio

Finding themselves down 14-0 before two minutes had even come off the scoreboard at Brenner Family Field, Nyekir Eato knew his team was down, but definitely not out.

As the offense found its footing, and the defense held, Eato’s time had come for a big play.

With just under four minutes to go in the first quarter, Eato blocked a Tyler Huseth punt, scooped up the ball, and went 45 yards for a touchdown that would bring the Eagles within seven.

Then, as time was running out in the period, he stripped the football away from St. Joe’s quarterback Daniel DeGennaro after he recovered it following a bad snap, knocking it away for Jose Barreto Martinez to bring back 47 yards to the house.

All of a sudden the game was tied at 14, but Eato had another big play left. It came after halftime.

The Eagles got the ball to start the half, and on the second play from scrimmage, busted a 71=yard touchdown run to give the Eagles a lead they would never relinquish.

Click here for the Game Story on Edison’s win, and the postgame interview with Eato and teammate Rickey Harvey, who had two touchdown catches in the game.

Honorable Mentions

Elijah Stewart, Union – The senior runningback carried 18 times for 202 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-7 home win over Elizabeth to get the Farmers back in the playoff picture. Stewart also had six tackles on defense.
Alex Uryniak, North Hunterdon – In a 21-14 win at Montgomery Friday night, the senior runningback took most of the load with Kente Edwards out due to a banged up ankle. He got the ball a whopping 34 times, rushing for 169 yards and 2 TDs. From his linebacker position, he also registered 14 tackles and a sack, and even played special teams, where he blocked a punt.
Adam Meiner, Ridge – The senior helped keep South Brunswick down in a 24-7 home victory Friday night. He had a mammoth game at cornerback: three interceptions, one of which was returned 37 yards and set up a field goal; another came in the end zone to keep the Vikings off the board.

Other Nominations

Brendan Fitzsimmons, Brearley – The senior, playing his first game at quarterback, rushed 18 times for 188 yards in a 32-0 win at Highland Park Friday night.
Anthony Christian, Spotswood – On Senior Day, the senior runningback carried 18 times for 155 yards and a touchdown, even completing a pass for 58 yards, and had two catches for 47 yards in a 25-7 victory Saturday afternoon against Dayton. On defense, at linebacker, he also had a sack.
Nick Kouflie, Bernards – Against Bound Brook Friday night, the senior returned a kick 52 yards for a touchdown (following a safety) and had a 45-yard touchdown reception, while also logging two tackles on defense before all the Mountaineer starters came out of the game before halftime.
Zachary Bolesta, South Plainfield – The senior runningback/split end carried nine times for 130 yards and a touchdown (63 yards) and had three catches for 67 yards and a 51-yard score, in a 33-19 win against Voorhees.
Zahmir Dawud, North Brunswick – The senior scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown runs in a 41-10 win at New Brunswick. He had a punt return touchdown and five tackles on defense, while on offense registering two catches for 35 yards and seven carries for 54 yards.
Tanner McCaffrey, South Hunterdon – The senior signal-caller – in a 43-0 shutout of Dunellen Friday night – completed four of just five pass attempts, but all went for touchdowns. He also carried six times for 56 yards and a TD, and added a two-point conversion for good measure.

Before Edison could even blink, the Eagles were down 14-0 on the road to St. Joe’s.

But, somehow, they scored 42 of the game’s next 9 points to win 42-23 in a game that saw touchdowns scored in just about every way possible.

The Falcons came out hot, with a 95-yard touchdown return by Jo Jo Huntley to start the game, then forced an Eagles’ three-and-out, and scored two plays later on a 32-yard pass play from Daniel DeGennaro to Christian Magliacano.

Boom.

But Edison, which went the entire first half without a first down, held from there, for the most part.

And chipped away.

First, it was a blocked punt by sophomore Nyekir Eato, late in the first quarter, which he then scooped and scored to cut it to 14-7. Edison tied the game when Eato nearly sacked DeGennaro after a bad snap. He wound up forcing a fumble, which Jose Barreto-Martinez took to the house, tying the game at 14.

After halftime, it was Edison’s turn to come out of the gate hot. On the second play from scrimmage of the third quarter, Nyekir Eato had a 71-yard touchdown run, then Ricky Harvey made his first of two touchdown catches, a 45-yarder from Matt Yascko, to give Edison a 28-17 lead.

Joe’s would come back with a DeGennaro to Jeremy DeCaro six-yard TD strike to make it 28-23, but Edison got its second TD score from Harvey for a 35-23 advantage, and added to it with a late pick-six to make it 42-23.

Edison has now won three straight and is 5-2 on the season while the Falcons drop to 3-3.

Click below for postgame reaction: