CRANFORD, NJ — Logan Murray scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter as Cranford rallied for a 34-27 victory over Matawan in the first round of the NJSIAA North 1, Group 3 football playoffs on Friday night.
Cranford (8-1) scored its second-highest point total of the season, but had to rally from a 14-point deficit early in the third quarter.
Aiden Capizzi passed for three touchdowns for the Cougars, including a 79-yarder to Luke Owens on a play-action pass followed by an extra point by Joell Quintana to give Cranford an early 7-0 lead after Michael Valenza's interception in the first quarter.
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Matawan went ahead, 21-7, early in the second half after a 21-yard pick-six by Kevin Auguste, a 54-yard TD pass from BlairCarter Gagneron and a 9-yard TD run by Sean Euell in the opening minute of the third quarter.
Capizzi's 22-yard TD strike to John Fiore on a play-action pass to the left corner of the end zone cut Matawan's lead to 20-14 with 6:39 left in the third quarter after a point-after kick by Quintana.
But Matawan (4-6), which scored more points than any Cranford opponent has this season, re-established a two-touchdown lead on Williams' 37-yard TD reception from Gagneron with 5:45 left in the third quarter.
Capizzi's third TD pass of the game, a 47-yard deep ball to Jake Friedman with 4:12 left in the third quarter, and Quintana's PAT, cut the Cougars' deficit to 27-21.
Cranford tied it, 27-27, on a 3-yard TD run by Murray powering through up the middle with 7:43 left in the fourth quarter. Murray then broke the tie with 3:34 left in the game on a 35-yard run down the left sideline and an extra point by Quintana.
Cranford will host Shabazz in the second round next Friday night. Shabazz beat Wayne Valley, 42-19, in the first round.
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