Cranford moved through September undefeated, reaching 4-0 for the first time in five years.
The Cougars realize that October will be just as daunting as making a key first down on third-and-five.
"Our schedule is fair," Cranford head coach Erik Rosenmeier said. "It's also extremely challenging."
Up next, who the Cougars are preparing for now, is a Montgomery squad that is coming off an impressive 38-35 home triumph over a 3-1 Somerville squad.
"Montgomery made some offensive adjustments against a good team and came away with a big win," Rosenmeier said.
Montgomery produced a season-high 38 points after scoring only 35 points combined its first three games.
October continues for the 4-0 Cougars. Following this Friday night’s home contest vs. Montgomery with be consecutive road games against South Plainfield, presently 3-2, and Carteret, 2-3, and the month’s regular season slate then wraps with a home game against Hillside, which is 5-0 and has outscored the opposition 176-17 so far, with two shutouts.
"Every week seems like a major hurdle to climb," said Rosenmeier, who is the longest tenured coach in Union County, at the helm of the Cougars since 2005.
The latest was a 14-7 triumph at Rahway last Friday night, with the host Indians falling just short of scoring a game-tying touchdown. There was also some debate on how much time was left following the game's final play.
"It was a frantic finish for both teams," Rosenmeier continued. "To Rahway's credit they did a great job of moving the ball against us through the air on that last possession."
Cranford managed touchdown runs of 27 yards and five by senior running back Gabe Worrell in the first and third quarters, followed by extra-point kicks from senior Joell Quintana.
A 16-yard pass from senior quarterback Jaquan Robinson to senior receiver Anthony Robertson followed by the point after kick from junior Jaiden Martinez pulled Rahway to within 14-7 for the only points scored in the fourth quarter.
CRANFORD COUGARS (4-0, 2-0 United Gold Division)
Sept. 4: Cranford 31, Bernards 24 - at Bernards
Sept. 10: Cranford 40, Scotch Plains 14 - at Cranford
Sept. 18: Cranford 29, Summit 0 - at Cranford
Sept. 25: Cranford 14, Rahway 7 - at Rahway
Oct. 2: Montgomery, 7 p.m.
Montgomery is 3-2.
Oct. 9: at South Plainfield, 6 p.m.
South Plainfield is 3-2
Oct. 16: at Carteret, 7 p.m.
Carteret is 2-3.
Oct. 23: Hillside, 7 p.m.
Hillside is 5-0.
