RAMSEY, NJ – Before we get into it, can we celebrate this historic run for BC football?  In Bergen Catholic's 70 years, never has a group won 4-consecutive titles.  Five?  Well it just wasn't meant to be.
     The Crusaders fell 31-17 to Don Bosco Prep in the semifinals of the NJSIAA Non-Public "A" Tournament meaning that for the first time in five years, there will be a new champion in New Jersey.
     Field position and mistakes were once again two of the most significant themes in a game between two very equally matched teams. 
     BC received the opening kickoff and after three incomplete passes quickly punted to the Ironmen, giving them outstanding starting position at the Crusader 43 yard line.  After picking up a first down and another as a result of a Crusader defensive holding call, Mason Marck and DeAndre Orgill combined to stop the ball carrier on the next three downs forcing Don Bosco to settle for a field goal.  Once again, the Ironmen grabbed a lead 3-0.
     The offense went nowhere and avoided disaster when Rocco Costello recovered a fumbled ball at the BC 12-yard line allowing the Crusaders the opportunity to punt.  Brody Carnahan punted the ball 31 yards to the 43 and Xavier Jackson tackled the returner at the 30 yard line after a 13-yard return.
     After a couple of completions, Xavier Jackson intercepted a DBP pass at the thirteen yard line, stopping the threat and giving BC an opportunity.
     Brian Porter picked up 7 yards on first down, getting the offense moving and Dante Kain picked up 2, setting up a third and one.  That is when Najee Calhoun ripped off a big , 21-yard run, just what the Crusaders needed to put them at midfield.
     Enter Walker Snee.  The big freshman carried for 17-yards, moving the offense into Bosco territory for the first time.  An illegal procedure call backed BC up to first and fifteen and Snee quickly erased the penalty, picking up five, but leaving BC with a second and ten.  Re-enter Trey Tagliaferri who threw incomplete on second down and was intercepted on third, giving DBP the ball at the 40-yard line.
     The Ironmen moved the ball to the BC 31-yard line before being held by the Crusader defense on fourth and long and BC once again took over to start the second quarter.
     After three short runs produced a first down, Tagliaferri threw a pair of completions to Bryan Porter, picking up 26 yards and a pair of first downs.  Then, with first and ten at the DBP 31 yard line, Tagliaferri dropped back and hit a sprinting Anthony Willis who caught the pass, crossing to the right side of the field and sprinting 31 yards to pay dirt, giving BC it's first lead in either game this year against Bosco.  Jacob Soltys drove the PAT through the uprights and confidence began to build, BC 7 – DBP 3.
     Soltys pinned the Ironmen deep, kicking the ball into the end zone for a  touchback.  The Ironmen when nowhere and punted to Anthony Busso, who fair caught the punt at the 49.
      Effective running by Calhoun, Snee and Tagliaferri moved the ball to the Ironmen 28.  An Ironman personal foul then moved the ball to the DBP 14.  Ultimately the drive stalled at the Ironman 5, but Soltys added three points to the Crusader tally with a 25-yard field goal.
     The Ironmen were held and punted the ball in what was one of the two most critical plays of the game.  As Austin Busso fielded the ball, a BC player blocked an Ironman in the back and after considering Busso's return, it translated into a 28-yard penalty, putting back to its own 31 yard line. 
     The next most critical play occurred with just 1:49 remaining, BC wanting to make the most of the half, threw an interception on the right side line.  The ball was returned from the 37-yard line to BC's 10-yard line. 
     Austin Busso made an incredible play, tracking down the defender, but also stripping the ball out of his hands before he was tackled.  The Crusaders recovered, but the official, who needed to deal with Don Bosco fans just yards from the field, apparently did not see the play and ruled the ball down, giving DBP first and goal with just over 90 seconds left in the half.
     Two plays later, the ball was in the end zone and after a very good half of football, BC went into the tent tied 10-10.
     Field position was significant throughout the game, but especially in the second half.  The Ironmen picked up a first down after the second half kickoff, but were forced to punt 3 plays later.  BC fair caught the ball at its own 37 yard line.
     After a five-yard gain by the Crusaders, an illegal procedure backed them up to second and ten.  Two plays resulting in minus-nine yards forced the Crusaders to punt and gave the Ironmen the ball at Ironman 49.
     DBP picked up a first down on four plays and on second and ten, linebacker Tim Hogan broke through the line and tackled the Ironman ball carrier for a 6-yard loss setting up  a third and 16.  Then, on third and long, the Ironmen exploited a blown coverage for a 40-yard touchdown pass and a lead the Ironmen would never relinquish.
     The Ironmen stopped BC and received the next punt inside Crusader territory.  That drive would result in a touchdown and a 24-10 lead.
     After an incomplete pass, a pair of illegal procedure penalties backed up the Crusaders to their own 15-yard line.  The Ironmen sacked the QB and forced a fumble which was recovered for a touchdown, the final score for DBP on the game.
     The team never quit, exemplified by the offense driving the field, finished off by a Dante Kain 21-yard touchdown.  Quite apropos for the guy to led the Crusader frosh with touchdowns four years ago to score the last of 2025.
    What a run!  Congratulations to Coach Vito Campanile, his coaches, Jordan Thomas and the team!  You have made us so proud and given us tremendous memories through the years.  Beating THREE STATE CHAMPIONS to open the season and showing such a will to win?!?  Who should be so lucky to have a team that represents its school like that?

TEAMS	1	2	3	4	FINAL
#4 Bergen Catholic (8-3)	0	10	0	7	17
#1 Don Bosco Prep (11-0)	3	7	7	14	31

Offense

#	Name	G	YDS	YFS	PTS	PEN
1	Dante Kain	1	30	50	6	-
3	Bryan Porter	1	8	41	-	-
4	Austin Busso	1	0	0	-	-
6	Najee Calhoun	1	94	94	-	-
12	Trey Tagliaferi	1	78	-29	-	-
13	Anthony Willis	1	0	47	6	-
14	Jamel Hammary	1	0	0	-	-
17	Walker Snee	1	28	28	-	-
25	Nicholas Mauro	1	0	7	-	-
42	Jacob Soltys	1	0	0	5	-
	TOTALS	1	238	238	17	5

 
 
Passing

#	Name	COMP	ATT	YDS	TD	LONG	INT	PCT
12	Trey Tagliaferi	10	22	107	1	31	2	45.5
	TOTALS	10	22	107	1	31	2	45.5

 
Rushing

#	Name	ATT	YDS	LONG	TD	FD	AVG
1	Dante Kain	6	30	18	1	2	5.00
3	Bryan Porter	3	8	7	-	-	2.67
6	Najee Calhoun	15	94	23	-	4	6.27
12	Trey Tagliaferi	7	-29	3	-	1	-4.14
17	Walker Snee	6	28	13	-	2	4.67
	TOTALS	37	131	23	1	9	3.54

 
Receiving

#	Name	REC	YDS	LONG	TD	D	AVG
1	Dante Kain	1	20	20	-	1	20.00
3	Bryan Porter	4	33	16	-	2	8.25
13	Anthony Willis	4	47	31	1	1	11.75
25	Nicholas Mauro	1	7	7	-	1	7.00
	TOTALS	10	107	31	1	5	10.70

Defense

#	Name	SOLO	AST	TOT
0	Jackson Vaughn	1	1	2
2	Xavier Jackson	2	1	3
3	Bryan Porter	1	-	1
4	Austin Busso	1	-	1
5	Timothy Hogan	3	6	9
7	Joshua Cruz	1	5	6
8	DeAndre Orgill	1	2	3
9	Kenneth Hackney	1	2	3
10	Mason Marck	3	2	5
13	Anthony Willis	1	-	1
21	Jordan Thomas	3	2	5
25	Nicholas Mauro	1	2	3
27	Amar'e Newell	1	1	2
88	Jermaine Kinsler	1	3	4
95	Brandon Wilson	1	2	3
99	Jayden Beckley	2	5	7
	TOTALS	24	34	58

INTERCEPTION:  Xavier Jackson (1)
FORCED FUMBLE:  Nicholas Mauro (1)
SACKS:  Jackson Vaughn (1), Brandon Wilson (1)
TFLs:  Nicholas Mauro (1.5), Jackson Vaughn (1), DeAndre Orgill (1), Brandon Wilson (1), Timothy Hogan (1), Kenneth Hackney (1), Jermaine Kinsler (0.5)
PASSES DEFEDED:  Xavier Jackson (1)
 
Special - Kick Return

#	Name	KR	YDS	LONG
21	Jordan Thomas	2	44	24
	TOTALS	2	44	24

 
Special - Punt Return

#	Name	RET	YDS	LONG	FC	AVG	BLOCKS
4	Austin Busso	2	20	13	2	10.00	-
21	Jordan Thomas	1	1	1	-	1.00	-
27	Amar'e Newell	-	-	-	-	-	1
	TOTALS	3	21	13	2	7.00	1

 
Special - Punter

#	Name	PUNT	PYDS	PNET	PLONG	PAVG
37	Brody Carnahan	5	157	136	33	31.40
	TOTALS	5	157	136	33	31.40

 
Special - Kicker

#	Name	KO	YDS	LONG	AVG	OOB	TB
37	Brody Carnahan	1	11	11	11.00	1	-
42	Jacob Soltys	3	179	60	59.67	-	2
	TOTALS	4	190	60	47.50	1	2

 
Special - Field Goals

#	Name	FGA	FGM	FGLONG	FGAVG
42	Jacob Soltys	1	1	26	1.00
	TOTALS	1	1	26	1.00

 
Special - PAT

#	Name	XPATT	XP	XPAVG
42	Jacob Soltys	2	2	1.00
	TOTALS	2	2	1.00

 

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video