Ground game key to Bishop Ahr win
Meade paces Trojans with 183 rushing yards
BY SHAWN LAYTON Staff Writer
The modus operandi for the Bishop Ahr High School football team this season has been to take what the defense gives it. The team's 40-34 victory over North Brunswick High School over the weekend was just another example.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT FRIEDMAN Above: Bishop Ahr's Taylor Black plows through defenders as the Trojans defeated North Brunswick, 40-34. Below: Ahr's Kenny Virden slips through the pack during the Oct. 30 game.

"We only threw the ball five or six times because we were able to run the ball so well," Bishop Ahr head coach Ron Hilliard said. "We ran the ball 55 times for 400 yards. It was pretty special."

Quarterback Robbie Meade tallied 30 carries for 183 yards and went to the air just five times. His 57-yard pass play to Mike Galant was Meade's biggest completion. The play set up the game-winning touchdown, a two-yard run by Meade.

"It was a very exciting game," Hilliard said. "Conditions were perfect, the weather wasn't a factor, and we were fortunate enough to execute a big play in the final minute of the game."

Meade finished the game with three rushing touchdowns, with running back Stephen Dumchus adding three scores of his own. Dumchus finished the game with 150 yards on 18 carries.

In addition to his big play that set up the winning score, Galant sealed the victory with an interception to put an end to North Brunswick's final drive.

"North Brunswick made some big plays," Hilliard said. "They're a good team with a lot of speed. The difference was that our offensive line really stepped up and dominated play. It was our offensive line that enabled us to stick almost exclusively with a ground attack."

Bishop Ahr built a 26-13 halftime lead, and it appeared the Trojans would steamroll to another blowout victory. North Brunswick had other plans, though, and responded on its opening possession of the second half with a 75-yard pass play to climb within six. But North Brunswick's inability to slow the Trojan run proved too much for the Raiders to overcome.

The Trojans will look to win their seventh straight game when they take on Matawan this weekend. Bishop Ahr heads into the contest averaging 37 points per game while the Matawan defense is only allowing seven per contest. Obviously, something will have to give when the two teams lock horns.

"Our offensive line is going to have to take control once again," Hilliard said. "If our line can control the line of scrimmage, we can manage the clock."

Matawan also enters this week's game 6-1 on the season. The Trojans will need to tighten up their defense if it plans to be 7-1 by this time next week.

"We didn't tackle well the other night," Hilliard said. "Matawan is another fast team, and we'll need to do much better bringing their guys down to prevent them from breaking big plays.