High School Football:
Minutemen Sink Toms River in Seniors' Last Home Game

Friday, November 13, 1998

By Mike Costantino
SJSports Staff Writer

In a non-league game added for teams that did not make the playoffs, Washington Township defeated the Toms River East Raiders on Friday night 28-7. It was a balanced running attack led by senior Matt Scaravaglione with juniors Joe Calaciura and Dave Dick. They scored on their first possession and used less than two minutes as they went 66 yards in 4 plays. The key play being a 41 yard pass play from senior quarterback Dave Crockett to senior wide receiver Jason Mosely. Crockett would sneak over from the one and give the Minutemen an early 6-0 lead, leaving little doubt that the last home game for these seniors would not end on a losing note.

After a 3 and out by the Raiders, Township took over on the Raiders 42 yard line and drove the ball to the 3 yard line but were stopped on fourth down. However, 2 plays later Toms River fumbled and Scaravaglione recovered at the 16 yard line. Four plays later Joe Caliciura rambled in from 4 yards out putting the Minutemen up 12-0. Throughout the first half the Township defense was suffocating, holding Toms River from moving the ball on the ground. After an exchange of turnovers, junior quarterback Brian McKillop replaced an injured Crockett. The Minutemen struck again as senior running back Dave Dick ran 64 yards for a touchdown and with the 2 point conversion they led 20-0 midway through the second quarter. Another turnover gave the Minutemen excellent field position at the Raiders 30 yard line when Calaciura scored his second touchdown of the night. This one from 4 yards out and with the 2 point conversion it was 28-0.

Following the kick-off the Raiders finally got on the board going 70 yards, with the final 27 yards coming on a pass from sophomore quarterback Colin Gaynor to junior wide receiver Todd Cuchie to make the score 28-7 at half-time.

Although there was no scoring in the second half, the Township defense led by senior Joe Diamond, when not putting pressure on the quarterback, was stuffing the run. When the Raiders offense started moving the ball from their shotgun formation, the defense would come up with a sack. Even though the offense produced zero points in the second half, they did put together a time consuming drive that took almost 7 minutes off the clock, led by quarterback Crockett. He would return in the second half to finish his last home game. With the win, the Minutemen move to 5-4 as do the Raiders with that loss.

South Jersey Sports Online would like to wish all the seniors on the football team well, as they move to the next level of competition both in the classroom and on the field.