Middletown North blanks Summit in N2G4 semis, reaches sectional final for first time since 1996
by WoodbridgeFootball.com / MyCentralJersey.com / NJ.com on 11/19/16
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on November 18, 2016 9:55 PM, updated November 18, 2016 10:21 PM
MIDDLETOWN – Middletown North was balanced on offense and relentless on defense Friday night and the second-seeded Lions (8-2) advanced to the North 2, Group 4 finals with a dominating 20-0 victory over third-seeded Summit.
Middletown North will play Sayreville, which ousted defending sectional champ Middletown South on Friday night, in the sectional final. North will be making its first sectional final appearance since 1996.
It was the fourth straight victory for Middletown North, which looks to end a 16-game losing streak to Middletown South on Thanksgiving Day.
The Middletown North offense was at its mix-and-match best. The Lions had 194 yards rushing and 240 yards passing.
Middletown North received a pair of field goals from Joey Cavanagh, a rare touchdown from a yard out by quarterback Donald Glenn and a five-yard scoring jaunt from Dwight Wilkerson on a jet sweep.
The Middletown North defense was equally impressive. It limited a potent Summit ground game to 96 yards – 24 in the second half. The Lion defense forced and recovered a fumble at its own eight yard line in the second quarter and picked off a pass in the end zone to keep the Hilltoppers off the scoreboard.
North scored on its first possession when Cavanagh converted from 23 yards out.
Wilkerson (6 carries, 46 yards) scored with 4:08 left in the first half for a 10-0 lead.
In the third quarter Glenn (17 for 27) capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive with a TD run on a naked bootleg to make it 17-0.
Then Cavanagh connected from 25 yards out to complete the scoring.
Connor Welsh, who looked in top form after missing most of the season with a broken arm, led Middletown North with 105 yards 15 carries.
Summit finished the season 8-3.
