Edison Scores Decisive Win Against Franklin on Senior Night
An Eagles player secures the football.
October 3, 2022
On a freezing Friday Senior Night, Edison football secured a decisive 34–7 win against Franklin. Edison quarterback Mathew “Matt” Yascko ‘23 threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns, Nyekir Eato ‘25 rushed for 109 and two touchdowns, and receiver Malcom Stansbury ‘23 led the team with 100 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in the victory.
Edison’s four-year quarterback Yascko, as well as wide receiver and defensive back Stansbury, made their returns from injury this week. Both had not played since the team’s second game, which was against J.P. Stevens.
Edison’s victory is a welcome turnaround from the last two weeks, during which Edison endured losses to both New Brunswick and Sayreville.
“My teammates and I were happy that we played well and were able to get a much-needed win on Senior Night,” said Yascko.
Lawn sign cutouts of graduating seniors.
An Edison coach huddles with several players.
Franklin players tackle an Edison player.
An Eagles player takes a drink.
Edison squares off against Franklin.
The Edison marching band performs their show “Chaos Order.”
Prior to the game, seniors from the football team, cheerleading squad, and marching band were escorted to the field by their families and recognized by the commentator, who also announced the soon-to-be-graduates’ future plans. Lawn sign cutouts of the seniors and posters decorated Edison’s side of the stadium.
Edison began the first half on the receiving end of Franklin’s kickoff; nevertheless, the Eagles made it to around midfield on a series of runs and a timely Franklin offsides penalty before an Eato fumble and Warriors’ recovery ended the drive. Franklin was unable to make much of their next drive and thus elected to punt, and Edison did the same on the ensuing possession. Then, with four minutes and 52 seconds left in the quarter, Warriors quarterback Samuele Mattia threw a deep pass to receiver James Hair-Sawyer, who outran his Eagles defender for the 45-yard touchdown score. Fehr Lujan’s successful extra point made the score 7–0, putting Franklin in the lead with four minutes and 42 seconds remaining in the quarter.
Edison immediately responded to Franklin’s drive with a touchdown of their own. With four minutes and forty seconds on the clock, Eato sped down the sideline for the 75-yard score. Kicker Selbin Sabio ‘23’s extra point try was good, making the score an even 7–7 ballgame. The Warriors struggled on their next drive, finding themselves looking to punt on fourth and nineteen with two minutes and twenty seconds remaining in the quarter. A fake punt attempt was stopped by Edison’s special teams unit, bringing a turnover on downs that put the Eagles in great field position to begin their next drive. A few plays later, quarterback Yascko found receiver Stansbury in the endzone for a ten-yard touchdown catch with 44 seconds to play in the quarter. Sabio’s extra point try was no good, keeping the score 13–7, Edison.
My teammates and I were happy that we played well and were able to get a much-needed win on Senior Night.
— Mathew Yascko '23
The Warriors began the second quarter facing a second and ten from their own 35-yard-line, but they were unable to gain the required yardage before being stopped on a fourth and two rush for another change of possession. Yascko quickly responded with a deep pass to receiver Stansbury, putting the Eagles deep in the Warriors’ red zone. Edison, however, was unable to score a touchdown or convert on their fourth-and-two field goal attempt. A few plays later, defensive back Jameel Parrott ‘23 intercepted quarterback Mattia’s deep pass, setting up yet another deep Yascko-Stansbury connection only a play later. Moving closer to the Warriors’ endzone, Edison managed to punch in a score with Eato’s one-yard touchdown run with four minutes and 29 seconds remaining in the half. Sabio’s extra point conversion made the score 20–7, Edison.
Franklin’s ensuing drive was cut short by defensive back Michael Strachan ‘23’s interception of Mattia’s deep pass on first and ten with one minute and twelve seconds left. Edison made its way downfield to the Franklin red zone on a series of short passes before scoring on a one-yard Yascko touchdown run with thirteen seconds left in the half. Sabio’s kick increased Edison’s lead to 27–7 to close out the half.
During halftime, the Edison cheerleading team performed for the fans. The marching band and color guard then performed their show “Chaos Order,” based on Dies Irae from Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi, The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel, and Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky.
The third quarter largely went by without major action as Franklin’s time-consuming drive ended short of the first down marker on fourth and four with two minutes and 59 seconds remaining in the quarter. Edison’s offense was also able to make its way to midfield before closing out the quarter.
Edison began the fourth quarter with three incomplete passes before settling to punt with eleven minutes and 41 seconds remaining in the quarter. Almost six minutes later, Franklin found itself in a similar position on fourth and six, running for a loss and turning the ball over to the Edison offense, now firmly in control of the ball game. The Eagles would advance deep into Warriors’ territory on a series of runs and short completions before reaching the end zone on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Yascko to Strachan with a minute and 42 seconds remaining in the quarter. A successful attempt from kicker Anish Bellary ‘23 made the score 34–7, Eagles, with Franklin only working with the time for at most one final drive to end the game. The Warriors were able to gain ten yards before fumbling and losing possession on first and ten with 39 seconds and no timeouts remaining in the quarter. Edison kneeled out the clock on the next play to end the game with a Senior Night 34–7 victory.
Game statistics are available from NJ.com.
The Edison High Film Club has photos available in its album.
