SOMERSET — Michael Gagliardi brings an awful lot to his role as a running back. One second he's a data analyst. The next a jackrabbit. A bowling ball. And finally a sprinter.
And sometimes all in one play.
Too much for Case's defense to handle on Thursday, Gagliardi rushed for 234 yards and six touchdowns in Somerset Berkley Regional's 41-19 Thanksgiving win over the Cardinals a stone-cold and wind-chilled Hanson Field. The Raider senior made the choice for game MVP a no-brainer for the media.
Gaglairdi's touchdown runs covered 16 yards, 15 yards, 7 yards, 4 yards, 56 yards and 19 yards. He routinely displayed patience on his rushes, waiting for holes to open and then slipping tackles, shedding defenders, bowling balling would-be tacklers, and then hitting the accelerator to help give SBR its seventh straight Thanksgiving win.
"It feels amazing," Gagliardi said. "I mean I'm son proud of this team, how we rally came together today. My offensive line was unbelievable today. From Ben McMahon in the backfield, to Saadi Saade, Jayden Cranshaw on the line, (quarterback) Jake Meehan throwing blocks out there for me. I owe it all to them, really. It's unbelievable, the best feeling in the world."
Up 14-13 late in the first half, the Raiders drove 70 yards in nine play, and Gagliardi's 7-yard run with 16 seconds on the clock gave the Raiders (5-5 final record) a 20-13 lead. They opened the second half with a 5-play, 45-yard drive to go ahead 27-13 and Gagliardi's 56-yarder had SBR up 34-13 midway through the third quarter.
Michael Gagliardi talks after rushing for 234 yards, 6 TDs in 41-19 win over Case. @sb_raiders @SBRHSBoosters pic.twitter.com/TZvJH8SV4S
— Greg Sullivan (@GregSullivanHN) November 22, 2018
For Case (7-4 final record), senior Chris Costa rushed 19 times for 127 yards. Teammate Clayton Dyer had a tremendous first half, with a touchdown run of 11 yards, a touchdown reception of 40 yards, and an interception deep in Case territory. Case never led but responded to SBR TDs on the Raiders' first two possesions to make this a very competitive game for a half.
SBR scored a touchdown on five of its first six possessions and six of its first eight.
All the TDs came courtesy of the compact Gaglairdi, very generously listed at 5-foot-9 on the roster. "I would say that's a little generous," he said with a laugh. "But I'm not going to dispute it."
Email Greg Sullivan at gsullivan@heraldnews.com. Follow him @GregSullivanHN.