IRVINGTON, NJ — Fresh off their week 0 wins, the two top public schools in the state met in the state’s premiere showcase, The Rumble on the Raritan at Rutgers SHI Stadium in New Brunswick. What would be considered a home game for the Blue Knights, gave both teams an opportunity to showcase some of the top talent in the state.
The Toure Brothers, Fahmah and Vaboue, along with Kyshir Deshir, all headlined the Blue Knights while Lotzier Brooks, Ta’Ron Haile, and Jacob Zambot lead the Thunderbolts in a hard-nosed defensive struggle. Irvington came into this week’s game with a 20-7 win over a tough and young Woodbridge Barons squad; meanwhile Millville showed up and kindly took out Thomas Jefferson High School out of Jefferson Hills, Pa. with a score of 40-10 in the Battle of the Beach in Ocean City, N.J.
Trading possessions and punts both teams were able to push within the opposing red zones, but it would be Fahmah Toure breaking free for a 30-yard run to set up a 1-yard run early in the second quarter capping a five-play, 40-yard drive to take the 6-0 lead.
Millville responded late in the second quarter with a late field goal by Jacob Zamot to go into the half 6-3.
To open the second half, Irvington kicked off to the Thunderbolts but recovered the fumbled ball to take possession at the Millville 34-yard line only to punt the ball back. The Bolts made the Blue Knights pay when quarterback Jacob Zambot launched a 79-yard fingertip bomb to wide receiver Thomas Smith III who danced into the end zone untouched giving Millville a 10-6 lead with just over 8:00 minutes left. But hold your soda, because Irvington scored with 6:16 left in the third quarter to take a 12-10 lead with Desir punching in from a yard out after the Blue Knights recovered a backwards punt on the Thunderbolts 1-yard line. Irvington would strike again on their next possession with Nasir Anderson snagging a quick out-pass from quarterback CJ Pittman for a 65-yard scamper to give the Blue Knights 19-10 cushion with 0:42 left in the third quarter.
With 8:48 left in the fourth quarter, Millville had their second wind come in, marching 70 yards in eight plays. Zambot found one of his receivers, Kashon Jones, on a 24-yard connection to help set up the three-yard N’aeem Sharp score to pull within striking distance at 19-17. But Irvington’s power and answer was enforced immediately with 2:23 left in the game. Taking the ball from their own 31-yard line, Fahmah Toure and Deshir combined for 46 yards rushing in three plays with just 2:34 left in the game. The Blue Knights’ stingy defense did the rest of the job in keeping the ‘Bolts out of the end zone and sealing the 25-17 win.
“We were counted out! Someone said we were going to lose by 30 points,” said Irvington head coach Ashley “Smoke” Pierre. “We came here to play with the opportunity to possibly play for another state title.” He went on to say that his team had to keep grinding as they are used to winning. They are built on winning and expect nothing less. “I hope their old head coach, Dennis Thomas, saw this,” joked Pierre. “They called us out since 2020 during the COVID year. Just wanted him to know we answered the call.”
“We knew that they were a tough squad,” said Millville’s head coach, Humberto Ayala. He said they did a great job in containing his star wide receiver, Lotzier Brooks, but couldn’t connect when the opportunity came.
Both teams will have a tough out next weekend as they will face the third of their three-game early season gauntlet. Irvington will face neighborhood rival East Orange and Millville will go head to head against their vaunted rival Williamstown. Both games will have a 7 p.m. start this Friday evening, Sept. 9.
Photos Courtesy of Kerry E. Porter
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