WEST CALDWELL- It is said that good teams find a way to win.
As two-time defending sectional champions, the Shabazz Bulldogs know how to grind out victories, even when not at their best.
On a crisp Friday night at Bonnel Field, the visiting Bulldogs used a stout defensive effort, two big plays on special teams, and just enough offense to hold off a game Caldwell team, 27-21.
The defense registered eight sacks, four by junior DE Adekunbi Adetayo. What makes this remarkable is that Adekunbi is in just his third year of playing organized football.
“He’s just getting better cause it’s only his third year playing football” said defensive coordinator AJ Dobson. “We just feel like every game every snap, he’s learning to play his best football. We felt like today was his coming out party and that’s the guy we see every day in practice so it’s no surprise to us how good he is.”
As for the special teams, the first big play came on the game’s first series. After forcing a three-and-out, junior DB Kenny Joanis broke through to block the Caldwell punt, giving the Bulldogs the ball at the Chiefs 16. On the first play, QB Kariem Coston faked a handoff, rolled left and sauntered into the endzone untouched for the score and a 7-0 Shabazz lead less than three minutes in.
Shabazz took over at the Caldwell 40 to start their next possession and drove to the 29. On 2nd-and-12 from the 31, Caldwell’s Dante Placenti picked off a pass at the 5, found room down the sideline and raced 95 yards to the house for a tying touchdown with 5:32 left in the first.
It would only take six plays for the Bulldogs to regain the lead. Starting at their 35, two runs and a 14-yard pass from Colton to Zaiden McDonald moved the ball to the Caldwell 49. Facing 3rd-and-7 from the 46, Coston (6-12, 116 yd, 2 TD 1 INT) found Nosym Brown open on a slant to the right. The sophomore WR stabbed the ball with his right hand, evaded a pair of defenders and outran the Chiefs secondary for the touchdown and a lead the Bulldogs would not relinquish at 14-7.
The next big special teams play for Shabazz took place on the second half kickoff. Junior RB Nyree Bailey took it at the 14, found room to the right and raced to paydirt for an 86-yard touchdown to make it 21-7.
Caldwell needed only six plays to answer. Starting from their 15, passes of 6 and 13 yards from Adam Sepe to Santino Russo moved the ball to the 34. Sepe (14-20, 183 yd., 1 TD 2 INT) then found Russo over the middle and the junior WR turned on the speed, racing to the Shabazz 5 for a gain of 61. Facing 3rd-and-goal from the 12, Sepe rolled right, threw back across the field to an open Placenti, who coasted into the endzone for the score and it was 21-14.
The Bulldogs extended their led once again when Coston found Brown for a 43-yard score to make it 27-14, and that would be critical because the Chiefs had an opportunity to take the lead in the final minutes.
Caldwell drove 80 yards in eight plays, aided by 25 yards in penalties. A 43-yard pass from Sepe to Nico Sozio moved the ball to the Shabazz 10, and after a penalty Nicco Capaldo blasted in from 5 yards out and it was 27-21.
