By Jim Hintelmann
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP – While its offense has been a strong point, the Middletown High School North defense has struggled at times this season, but that seems to have been straightened out if Friday night’s impressive 33-14 football win over Woodbridge in a first round NJSIAA North Jersey II Group IV contest is any indication.
The final score is misleading as North jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead and led 33-0 going into the final quarter before Woodbridge scored both of its touchdowns, the last one against North’s reserves.
“We got off to a good start and scored on our first drive,” said North coach Steve Bush. “We did a good job getting turnovers and turning them into points in the first half. We got another home game next week and we are excited about that.”
Quarterback Donald Glenn and wide receiver Brendan Kube led the offense with Glenn competing 8 of 18 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Kube caught five of the passes for 155 yards and a touchdown.
“The whole offensive line blocked very well,” said Kube, who has eight touchdown receptions this year. “Don and I have worked together for the past three years and have good chemistry between us.”
North (7-2) was in control from the start, scoring on jts first three possessions. The Lions took the opening kickoff and moved 58 yards in nine plays with junior Connor Welsh, who missed much of the season with an arm injury, scoring on a 23-yard run. Joey Cavanaugh, who also kicked a pair of field goals, kicked the first of three extra points
“I missed seven games,” said Welsh, one of North’s top runners a year ago. “I broke a bone in my arm against RBC in my second game and I didn’t know if I would be able to come back, but I did it.”
North went 50 yards in five plays on its next series with Connor Robbins scoring on a 1-yard run. A 42 yard Glenn to Kube pass set it up.
“Brendan finds ways to get open and makes big plays,” said Bush. “He’s been a great player for us.”
A fumble recovery by defensive end Justin Muller set up the third North touchdown, a 33-yard pass from Glenn to Kube on the final play of the first quarter.
Welsh led a six-play, 49-yard North drive in the second quarter with 40 yards on five carries before Glenn threw a 14-yard scoring pass to Dwight Wilkerson.
North added its final scores in the third quarter on field goals of 35 and 20 yards by Cavanaugh.
North’s lone losses were 30-27 to RBC on a last minute field goal, and to Manasquan, 31-21.
The win puts the Lions into the semifinals this Friday when they will play host to Summit, which routed Colonia, 42-7, in its quarterfinal game.
