The Bergen Catholic Crusaders (7-1) and St. Peter's Prep Marauders (5-3) squared off against each other at Jack McGovern Field on the campus of Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, New Jersey.
Bergen Catholic was coming off a 31-21 win over St. Joseph Regional (Montvale) last week. Meanwhile, St. Peter's Prep lit up the scoreboard in a 70-41 rout of Paramus Catholic.
A perfect fall day for a football game, with the stands packed with supporters from both schools—Weatherwise, with mild temperatures, golden sunshine, and deep blue skies.
Bergen Catholic senior linebacker Malachi Mercer and St. Peter's Prep senior linebacker Jack Adams were honored as their respective schools' 2022 Steve DeGregorio Young Man of the Year.
St. Peter's Prep blasted right out of the gates on their first offensive series. Senior quarterback Champ Long completed a 41-yard pass to senior wide Zion Fowler that advanced the ball to the Crusaders' 37-yard line. Long hooked up with Fowler on a 37-yard touchdown pass.
After Bergen Catholic's first offensive possession ended three and out, the Crusaders' offense righted the ship. Marching down the field in 66 yards while chewing up just 2:10 of the clock, senior running back Saeed St. Fleur took the handoff and blasted through the line of the players to the end zone for the 20-yard score tying the game up at 7-7.
The Marauders answered in seven plays culminating in a 43-yard touchdown pass from Long to wide receiver Kenyon Massey. However, Bergen Catholic defensive lineman De'Juan Samuels smashed through the line of linemen on the extra point attempt and blocked the kick leaving the score at 13-7.
The back-and-forth action continued as the Crusaders responded emphatically. Starting at their 22-yard line, Bergen Catholic needed four plays to reclaim the lead. Sophomore quarterback Dominic Campanile tossed a pass to sophomore wide receiver Quincy Porter who reeled in the catch and raced 51 yards to the end zone for the score.
Samuels continued to wreak havoc on the special teams, blocking a punt in the second quarter that set the Crusaders' offense in great shape in St. Peter's Prep territory.
Once again, Bergen Catholic flashed the quick strike ability, repeating the previous drive in four plays that resulted in Dominic Campanile connecting for a second time with Quincy Porter, lofting a 24-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Porter in the end zone.
The Crusaders defense finally managed to get the upper hand forcing the Marauders into a three-and-out. Samuels dominated in all facets and sacked Long.
When Bergen Catholic's offense might be on the verge of extending their advantage, a muffed catch on the punt return led to a fumble, and St. Peter's recovered the ball at the Crusaders' 23-yard line.
St. Peter's Prep pushed the ball down to the Bergen Catholic seven-yard line. On first and goal, Long found a favorite target in Massey for the second time in the end zone.
Going for the two-point conversion, the Marauders spread out the formation. Employing some trickery, senior center Nick Schoen snapped the ball to the left to sophomore wide receiver DJ Brown who surged ahead for the score tying the game up at 21-21.
The offensive fireworks did not subside at all. The Crusaders returned the following kickoff to their 22-yard line. Bergen Catholic running back St. Fleur gained 15 yards on the run.
On the next play, senior quarterback Jack Duffy took the snap and handed the ball St. Fleur; instead of running the ball, Fleur flipped the ball to sophomore wide receiver Anthony Perrotti who ended up tossing the ball back to Duffy.
Duffy aired out a perfect 63-yard bomb to wide receiver Quincy Porter who rumbled into the end zone for the score putting Bergen Catholic back in front 28-21.
The Marauders looking to ignite a rebuttal gambled on a fourth and three at their 47-yard line, but the Crusaders' defense stacked the line that ended up with a turnover on downs.
Bergen Catholic did not waste any time cashing in on the short field. Dominic Campanile completed a 17-yard pass to tight end, Jack Comeau. St. Fleur followed up that play barreling 25 yards on the run down to the St. Peter's Prep three-yard line.
On first and goal, Duffy handed the ball off to Samuels, who burst through the line into the end zone for the score as the Crusaders widened the advantage to 35-21.
In the third quarter, the Marauders' offense had two golden opportunities to narrow the Bergen Catholic lead. The Crusaders' defense rose to the occasion both times.
St. Peter's came out aggressive to start the quarter by chewing up almost four minutes of the clock and moving deep into Bergen Catholic territory. On fourth down and short, the Marauders denied gaining a first down.
Late in the quarter, St. Peter's Prep was back in business inside the red zone but failed to capitalize with an incomplete pass on fourth down.
The Crusaders' defense flew all over the field as senior linebacker Joseph Barry intercepted a Champ Long pass and returned the ball to the Marauders' 35-yard line.
On first down, quarterback Dominic Campanile took the direct snap and weaved through a maze of players before sprinting down the left sidelines into the end zone for the score to expand the margin to 42-21.
Joseph Barry made his presence known again in the secondary on the next St. Peter's Prep offensive possession. Champ Long attempted to complete a pass down the middle of the seam, but Samuels deflected the ball and right into the arms of Barry for his second pick.
The Marauders refused to go away quietly. With less than five minutes remaining and the ball at their 39-yard line, St. Peter's Prep went to a hurry-up offense.
A personal foul assessed against the Bergen Catholic defense kept the drive going. Facing a fourth and ten at the Crusaders' 11-yard line, Long found Massey for the third time in the end zone.
St. Peter's Prep attempted to make it a two-score game, but Crusaders defensive lineman Samuels capped off a monstrous day by crashing through the line on the extra point attempt to block his second kick of the day.
With time winding down, the Marauders went for the onside kick, which worked to their advantage in recovering the ball. St. Peter's Prep was pushing the pace in advancing the ball into Bergen Catholic territory. Long completed a pass to wide receiver Hassan Moore who made a spectacular one-handed catch.
St. Peter's forging ahead into the red zone. However, the Crusaders' defense drew a line in the sand by forcing Champ Long into throwing four incomplete passes and a turnover on downs.
All Bergen Catholic had to do was kneel on the ball twice as they coasted to the 42-27 victory and third straight win.
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