SUMMIT – The way the Summit football team performed in its home-opener Friday night can another 12-0 season be in store?
The Hilltoppers looked that sharp.That precise.
That unbeatable.
Summit scored all seven times it had the ball in the first half en route to a commanding 48-14 triumph over Cranford in Mid-State 38 Conference-Raritan Division action at Tatlock Field.
Summit has now won a Union County-leading 15 straight games and is 26-1 since the start of the 2011 season.
The only negative for Summit, which improved to 3-0 overall and a leading 3-0 in the Raritan Division, was that in the first half the Hilltoppers committed five penalties for 50 yards.
Summit senior quartereback Charlie Terry completed 8-of-10 passes for 144 yards and four touchdowns before the first quarter came to a close as the Hilltoppers led 28-7 going into the second.
The second half began with the game being played by the 35-point lead rule, with the clock continuing to run except for penalties, injuries, timeouts and scoring.
The game resumed to normal time later in the third quarter after Cranford senior quarterback John Oblachinski scored on a three-yard run and then senior Troy Kettler kicked the extra point to pull the Cougars to within 34 at 48-14.
Summit had the ball first and began at its own 30. The Hilltoppers proceeded to zip right past Cranford, with Terry completing passes to senior Andrew Masterfano and senior Colm Dougherty running the ball on the outside.
On the 10th play of the drive, Terry hit junior Chris Zanelli over the middle for a 23-yard touchdown pass. Zanelli followed with the first of his six extra points.
Cranford lost a fumble on its next possession. Terry then hit a wide open senior David Connolly over the middle for a 33-yard touchdown pass.
To Cranford’s credit, the Cougars bounced right back, with junior running back Donovan Walker slipping through a hole at the 50 and then sprinting down the left sideline for a 54-yard touchdown run. Troy Kettler’s extra point brought Cranford to within 14-7.
However, Summit’s offense continued to be too fast for the Cougars to contain. Terry completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Zanelli on a short drive and then after Cranford was held to one first down, Terry hit a wide open Masterfano for a 38-yard touchdown pass.
In the second quarter, Summit backup quarterback Caleb Sink scored on a one-yard run, Dougherty sprinted up the middle for a 64-yard TD and Terry scored from seven yards out.
Terry completed 10-of-15 first-half passes for 200 yards and his four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Summit also carried the ball 16 times for 227 yards in the first half. Dougherty gained 143 yards on nine carries and Donnelly 45 on three. Terry carried the ball three times for 36 yards.
Masterfano had three catches for 67 yards and one touchdown, Zanelli two for 33 and two TDs, junior Sean Andrews three for 61 and Connelly one for 33 yards one one score. Senior Dan Childers had one catch for six yards.
Walker carried the ball 10 times for an even 100 yards and his one score.
Cranford standout senior lineman Robert O’Shaughnessy, the team’s only starter since his sophomore year, blocked Summit’s fifth extra point attempt.
NOTES: Summit has now won 39 straight regular season games and is 5-0 vs. Cranford the last five seasons, scoring at least 48 points in three of those victories over the Cougars.
In Raritan Division play next weekend, Summit will host North Plainfield on Oct. 5, while Cranford will seek to rebound at home against Roselle next Friday night, Oct. 4.
Roselle is 0-2 and has this weekend off. North Plainfield is 2-1 and winners of two straight.
MID-STATE 38 CONFERENCE-RARITAN DIVISION GAME
CRANFORD (1-2, 1-1) 7 0 7 0 – 14
SUMMIT (3-0, 3-0) 28 20 0 0 – 48
FIRST QUARTER:
SUMMIT – Chris Zanelli 16 pass from Charlie Terry,
Chris Zanelli kick (S 7-0)
10 plays, 70 yards, 2:31 used
SUMMIT – David Connolly 33 pass from Charlie Terry,
Chris Zanelli kick (S 14-0)
1 play, 33 yards, :27 used
Summit capitalized on a turnover – a Will Huck fumble recovery.
CRANFORD – Donovan Walker 54 run, Troy Kettler kick (S 14-7)
8 plays, 78 yards, 3:19 used
SUMMIT – Chris Zanelli 17 pass from Charlie Terry,
Chris Zanelli kick (S 21-7)
2 plays, 56 yards, :28 used
SUMMIT – Andrew Masterfano 38 pass from Charlie Terry,
Chris Zanelli kick (S 28-7)
5 plays, 64 yards, :44 used
SECOND QUARTER:
SUMMIT – Caleb Sink 1 run, kick failed (S 34-7)
7 plays, 65 yards, 2:17 used
Summit capitalized on a turnover – a Nick Ruiz fumble recovery.
SUMMIT – Colm Dougherty 64 run, Chris Zanelli kick (S 41-7)
3 plays, 70 yards, 1:11 used
SUMMIT – Charlie Terry 7 run, Chris Zanelli kick (S 48-7)
3 plays, 45 yards, :44 used
THIRD QUARTER:
CRANFORD – John Oblachinski 3 run, Troy Kettler kick (S 48-14)