"This was another Cranford-Rahway game that came right down to the end, a hard-fought game where both teams didn't quit," Rosenmeier said. "There was a lot of old school to it."

Cranford defeated Rahway for the fifth straight season going back to 2022. Rahway's last win over Cranford was in 2019.

The last three games were extremely close, with Cranford winning by two points last year and by a single point two years ago.

"They were lighting up the scoreboard, so we focused on trying to stop their run game," said Rosenmeier, who prepared for a Rahway team that was averaging over 30 points in its 4-0 start. "I felt we were best equipped to do that."

Cranford limited Rahway to just over 80 yards on the ground and 80 in the air.

"We held them to one first down in the first half," Rosenmeier said.

Cranford is 2-0 in the Big Central Conference's United Gold Division. The Cougars will attempt to win the division outright when they play at Carteret Oct. 16.

Rahway, now 4-1 overall, is 2-0 in the Liberty Gold Division, with league games remaining at Plainfield Oct. 9 and at Colonia Oct. 16.

The Indians are next at home vs. South Brunswick on Thursday, Oct. 1 and will wrap their regular season at home vs. Edison on Oct. 23.

Rahway has made the playoffs every year under head coach Brian Russo's tenure, which began in 2015.

The Indians seek to make the grade once again this season out of North, Group 4.

Cranford has made the playoffs every year since 2011 under Rosenmeier after going 6-0 in consolation games his first six seasons in charge from 2005-2010.

The Cougars seek to qualify again out of North, Group 3. They are the only Union County school situated in that section.

Cranford is also the last Union County school to capture a sectional state championship, winning North 2, Group 3 for the third time in the playoff era in 2021, the year before the NJSIAA advanced its playoff system to include group semifinals and finals.

Cranford's wins over Rahway the past five years have enhanced its playoff qualifying.

"We've just had good fortune," Rosenmeier said. "We just as likely could have been on the other side.

"There's never a surprise with Rahway and who they are. They have good players, show up and are very physical."

Cranford is 4-0 for the first time since its last state championship team of 2021 and seeks to go 5-0 for the first time since that same season five years ago.

"I'm happy with the start, but happier that are kids are practicing better now," Rosenmeier said. "That was my biggest criticism that we weren't practicing well when the season started. That has changed for the better."

CRANFORD VS. RAHWAY SINCE 2019:

2026: Cranford 14, Rahway 7 - at Rahway

2025: Cranford 43, Rahway 41 - at Cranford

2024: Cranford 14, Rahway 13 - at Rahway

2023: Cranford 25, Rahway 6 - at Cranford

2022: Cranford 35, Rahway 0 - at Rahway

2021: Did not play

2020: Did not play

2019: Rahway 46, Cranford 14 - at Rahway

Follow JR Parachtni on 'X' @parachini_jr