Linden 35, Scotch Plains 0
(High school Football scores and results)

The Star Ledger, September 18, 2009 7:40 p.m.

Maybe scrimmages and practices are overrated.

After sitting out nearly three weeks and all of his team's scrimmages and practices without taking a snap due to a high-ankle sprain, Trell Myers returned to quarterback Linden yesterday without missing a beat.

Myers coolly and efficiently guided Linden to touchdowns in four of its first five possessions en route to a 35-0 victory over Scotch Plains yesterday in Linden.

"We just came out ready to play, everybody was hyped up in the beginning," Myers said. "It feels good to be back with the team, playing again."

Myers completed eight of 13 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown as four different players crossed the goal line in Linden's deep and balanced arsenal. Sophomore Ruhann Peele scored twice on a 16-yard pass from Myers and a 48-yard punt return while William Ingram ran for a game-high 119 yards on 14 carries, all in the first half.

"When your line is blocking everything goes good," Myers said. "We have a lot of weapons on offense, our receivers, our running backs. It's a good feeling with everybody doing the right thing."

As impressive as Linden's offensive fireworks were, its defense was even mightier, limiting Scotch Plains to 31 yards of total offense, including a hard-fought 24 rushing yards on 25 carries.

Linden was particularly effective in containing Scotch Plains quarterback Gary Binkiewicz, Union County's top performer last weekend. Linden pressured Binkiewicz all afternoon, keeping him in negative numbers in total offense with two passing yards on a 3-of-12 effort and minus-9 rushing/sack yards on nine tries.

"We did a good job defensively. Coach (Deon Candia) asked us to step and make plays and that's what we did," said Green, who anchors what could be Union County's best group of linebackers. "Coach said we're a good team when we work individually, but we're a great team when we work together."

On the game's first possession, Ingram rushed for 82 yards in a 76-yard, 10-play drive, a feat made possible by Linden's three illegal procedure calls. Ingram capped the march with a 10-yard jaunt around right end on third-and-goal with 7:01 left in the quarter.

Linden would require 10 plays for its second score as well, but this drive covered only 52 yards following Peele's 20-yard punt return to midfield. This time, Myers finished on a fourth-and-1 from the 6.

Linden failed to score on its third possession and a bad snap on the punt gave Scotch Plains possession at the Linden 30. Binkieiwcz ran for first downs on third-and-5 and fourth-and-1 but Scotch Plains could not penetrate the 10-yard line and a 10-yard sack by Jaurice Jones nixed Scotch Plains' best chance with four minutes to play in the first half.

Linden came roaring back by driving 82 yards in nine plays with Myers connecting with Peele on a fade to the left corner of the end zone for a 21-0 lead with 21.5 seconds left in the half.

"We could have had a score at the end of the half and we screwed it up, and they shouldn't have scored and we could have gone in 13-7, and who knows?" Scotch Plains coach Steve Ciccotelli said. "They're very physical and I think they took the game over."

Linden maintained its momentum after the break, requiring seven plays to cover 61 yards on its first possession of the second half with Green finishing from a yard out midway through the quarter.

Peele added his punt return on the final play of the third quarter, mercifully enabling the fourth quarter to be played with a running clock.

The lone negative for Linden was the 75 yards it was assessed on 10 penalties, a trend that might be too much for it to overcome as its schedule stiffens. But on this afternoon it had more than enough muscle on both sides of the ball to compensate for its shortcomings.

                             1st   2nd   3rd   4th   Final
Linden (2-0)                   7    14    14     0      35
Scotch Plains (1-1)            0     0     0     0       0

First Quarter

Linden: William Ingram 10 run (Yardley Batelus kick)
 

Second Quarter

Linden: Trell Myers 6 run (kick failed)

Linden: Peele, Ruhann 16 pass from Myers, Trell (Peele, Ruhann pass from Myers, Trell)
 

Third Quarter

Linden: Green, Kranston 1 run (Batelus, Yardley kick)

Linden: Peele, Ruhann 48 punt return (Batelus, Yardley kick)
 

                       Scotch Plains                 Linden
First Downs                                                
Rushes-Yards                   25-24                 37-186
Passing                            7                    137
Comp-Att-Int                  12-3-0                 8-13-0
Punts                              -                      -
Fumbles-Lost                       -                      -
Penalties-Yards                    -                  10-75

Rushing: Scotch Plains - Gary Binkiewicz 9--9, Quintin Blackwell 3-4, Javin Hawkins 7--4, Kyle Berwick 1-0, Neville Hall 5-33. Linden - Kranston Green 3-2, William Ingram 14-119, Trell Myers 7-17, Kevin Rodriguez 12-55, Ruhann Peele 1--7.

Passing: Scotch Plains - Gary Binkiewicz 3-12-7-0. Linden - Trell Myers 8-13137-0.

Receiving: Linden - Anthony Alix 1-49, Jaquill Davis 2-32, Kranston Green 1-8, Ruhann Peele 4-48.