Howell hosting its first grid playoff game Friday
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

For the first time in school history, Howell High School will be playing an NJSIAA state playoff football game at home.

Cory Davies' Rebels will be hosting Brick Memorial Friday night in the semifinals of the Central Jersey Group IV playoffs. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Howell advanced to the sectional Final Four Saturday afternoon outscoring West Windsor-South, 26-18, in Plainsboro.

The Rebels, who have been using a spread offense that throws the ball all over the field, threw a curve ball at the Pirates, running the option. It helped the team produce its most balanced effort of the season. Howell gained 173 yards on the ground and 185 via the air.

"We worked on the option during our bye week for Marlboro, but we decided not to use it," he said.

Davies said there were three reasons Howell picked up the running game in recent weeks. One was the play of the offensive line. The return from injury of starters Alex Killian and Mike Gallucci gave the line a lift. Second was the play of the team's running backs. Eric Feehan missed a couple of games midway through the season and is now running in top form. Third, he pointed out, was more of a commitment to the running game by the coaching staff.

Howell's newfound running game was never more important than in the final 4:00 on Saturday's game in Plainsboro. Leading 26-18, the Rebels drove 60 yards on the ground, running out the clock.

"It's something we couldn't have done four or five weeks ago," said Davies.

Quarterback Sean O'Reilly continued his outstanding all-around play, frustrating the Pirate defense with his arm and legs.

"Sean was very efficient with the passing game and scrambling, and he did quite well running the option," said Davies.

O'Reilly gained 77 yards on the ground and scored three times on runs of 2, 2 and 12 yards.

Feehan, who picked up 72 yards on 15 carries, scored on a 16-yard run.

O'Reilly was on target with the passing game, going 16-for-20 for 185 yards.

Chance Carrick was his favorite target, hauling in seven of his aerials for 85 yards.

O'Reilly has now accounted for seven touchdowns in the last two games. Against Marlboro, he scored two touchdowns on pass interception returns, scored once on a run and passed for another.

Saturday's game in Plainsboro went back and forth. The Pirates (6-3) took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter on Ryan Lupo's 27-yard gallop.

Howell took a 14-12 lead in the second quarter on Feehan's and O'Reilly's scores.

Lupo drew the Pirates within 14-12 before the half, with Howell stopping the two-point conversion.

Howell extended the lead to 20-12 on O'Reilly's second 2-yard run.

The Pirates came right back and answered on Lupo's third TD run, 4 yards. He gained 166 yards on 22 carries.

Again, the Howell defense stopped the two-point conversion and was clinging to a 20-18 lead going into the fourth quarter.

O'Reilly's 12-yard scoring run put Howell up by eight again. When Howell got the ball back with 4:00 remaining, the Pirates never saw the ball again as runs by Feehan and O'Reilly helped Howell run the clock out and move on to the semifinals.

Davies said that after upsetting Sayreville last year in the first round on the road, the team was very giddy, having registered the school's first-ever playoff win. This year, the mood was quite different, more business-like. The team had been here before. The goal was to get the next one.

Howell (6-3), seeded fifth, gets to host the semifinal because Brick Memorial upended the top-seed Sayreville Friday night, 35-9.

Vinnie Falkiewicz will be target No. 1 for the Rebel defense. The tailback gained 254 yards on 37 carries in the Mustangs 35-9 romp over top-seed Sayreville.