Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

East Rutherford raced past Polk County’s bruised and battered team Friday, opening a 35-0 halftime lead en route to a 49-6 victory over the Wolverines on Homecoming night in G.M. Tennant Stadium.

The Cavaliers (4-3, 2-1) took the opening kickoff, ran seven plays in two minutes, scored on Brandon Pinkerton’s 2-yard run and never trailed in earning their fourth road win of the season.

Already battling depth issues, Polk County (1-6, 0-3) entered without a handful of starters, including junior quarterback Gunnar Alm, sophomore linebacker Styler Blackwell and senior Aaron Dickey. Alm’s absence meant a career first start for freshman Brody Wilkins, who had been playing on the offensive line to date for the Wolverines.

Wilkins performed admirably in his varsity debut, throwing for 84 yards and a touchdown on 8-of-13 attempts. He did have two interceptions as Polk County had a season-high four turnovers.

Pinkerton finished the night with 130 yards rushing and three touchdowns, but it was Matthew Pinkerton’s 75-yard touchdown reception on a flanker option pass from Blake McClellan that sparked East Rutherford’s 21-point second quarter. Landon Flynn followed that with touchdown passes to Jaylen Hinton and Jason Arrowood, the latter coming with 10 seconds left in the second quarter.

CJ Jackson’s 57-yard interception return for a score midway through the third period brought a running clock as the Cavaliers took a 42-0 lead. Polk County answered early in the fourth period as Wilkins tossed a short pass that Loreynzo Sanchez snared and carried to the end zone, completing a 32-yard scoring play.

Pinkerton added his third score with 5:08 remaining for the final margin.

Polk County will host Brevard on Friday for its final home game of the season.