The Pirates scored 36 points in the second half behind their senior QB.
Bill Evans | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Billy Smith looks like a much different quarterback in his second year as a starter, and that means the Cedar Creek football team could be a much different team than a year ago.
Smith lit up Matawan for 210 yards and four touchdowns and Cedar Creek pulled away for a surprisingly dominant 42-0 win at the Battle at the Beach on Sunday. The senior completed his last seven passes - including going 5-for-5 for 146 yards and three scores in the second half after the Pirates went into the locker room leading just 6-0. He was 13-for-19 overall. Cedar Creek finished last season 4-7 - which started with a Battle at the Beach loss to Edison - and Smith was up and down. He threw for 1,872 yards but ended up with just 10 touchdowns to 17 interceptions.“I went to a lot of camps over the summer, trained a lot with my quarterbacks coach,” said Smith. “Really just prepared for this, broke down defenses, did a lot of studying this year which is something I didn’t do last year. Last year was me just taking a shot and taking chances. My No. 1 goal is to be patient, sit in that pocket and see what they give me.” Said Cedar Creek coach James Melody: “He played a pretty clean game. We wanted to eliminate the penalties and the turnovers, something that sort of bit us last year. Listen, his confidence is really high right now, and I feel really good about where he’s at as a player and a leader.” Darius Benjamin was Smith’s preferred target, hauling in six passes for 155 yards and three scores. On all three touchdowns, Benjamin broke free down the right side and brought in a deep pass for a score. “Early on in the game, I played with them a little bit on the run, so I gave a little release to see what he was giving me,” said Benjamin. “We missed a couple deep balls, so we just adjusted and came out in the second half and knew our skills were better. When the ball’s in the air, it’s my ball or nobody’s ball. “This is a fun fact. I’ve actually been playing with Billy since my seventh grade year. We’ve been playing football together a very long time, so the chemistry is definitely there. We’re definitely getting better together. The team is getting better.” Matawan was controlling the field position early and 6-foot-9, 295-pound lineman Jayden Elijah was a presence in Cedar Creek’s backfield. But a fourth-down stop at the goal line and the first of two interceptions by Gyan King - an athletic catch of a tipped ball in the end zone - kept the Huskies from scoring. Cedar Creek finally flipped the field and with 1:37 left in the first half, Smith found a wide-open Alim Parks in the end zone for a 21-yard score. CJ McAfee returned the opening kickoff of the second half 86 yards to the house, and the Pirates were literally off and running. The rest of the second half was Smith and Benjamin playing pitch-and-catch and a swarming Pirate defense feeding off the big plays on offense. “We had good momentum at the end of the first half, had good energy going into the locker room,” said Melody. “We said we had to come out and score on the first drive, but popping one on the kick return is just as good. That was the turning point of the game.” Melody felt last year’s 42-21 loss at the Battle at the Beach set a negative tone for the season. On the flip side, two years ago the Pirates dominated a solid Scotch-Plains Fanwood team, 52-0, and went on to finish 13-0 with a No. 2 ranking in the state. Matawan is a team that came into the season with high expectations and could still have a solid year, so the final result could prove to be a preview of what’s to come for Cedar Creek. “It’s huge to get out to a fast start, we have a lot back and our guys have worked really hard,” said Melody. “We wanted to show where we were at, and we did that today. Once we got the momentum, you saw what kind of team we could be.” In its short history, Cedar Creek has been known for quarterback and receiver play and contending for championships. Smith, Benjamin and the rest of the 2023 Pirates could be ready to add to the legacy. “I just want to leave my mark, as a senior break the school mark, and I just want to leave with a bang,” said Smith. The N.J. High School Sports newsletter now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now and be among the first to get all the boys and girls sports you care about, straight to your inbox each weekday. To add your name,
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Erik Schriver runs for 136, 3 TDs, defense shines as Cedar Cliff downs ShippensburgThe Colts trialed 13-10 at the half before taking control of the game.
Read more »
Early closing time ordered for Walnut Creek bar after history of fights, assaults and quadruple shootingStarting in September, Spoontonic Lounge will close by midnight, seven days a week, in an attempt to dissuade a recent uptick in crime.
Read more »
Cherry Creek Schools says boosting teacher pay is paying offCherry Creeks Schools boosted their starting teacher salary this year, and district officials say it’s paying off.
Read more »
Paradiso powers Cedar Grove football past Ramsey in Jim Grasso Kickoff ClassicCedar Grove over Ramsey - Football recap
Read more »
Miley Cyrus Compares Her and Billy Ray Cyrus' Relationships to FameMiley Cyrus broke down how she and her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, see their relationships to fame and success in different ways
Read more »