By: Joe Haemmerle '86
ORADELL, NJ – The Freshman Football Team won a tremendous come-from-behind game on Saturday morning, posting 19-unanswered fourth quarter points vs. Don Bosco Prep to win 20-12.
Cruz Araujo and
Austin Bryan ran the ball well for the Crusaders behind strong blocking from
Cameron Graham, Dominic Ginestra,
Mathias Deleon,
Lu'ay Gjokaj and Giuseppe LaRosa. Tight ends Nathan Worley and
Michael Tremarco were instrumental caving the defensive edges and motioning across the formation to kick out corner support.
BC did a fine job moving the football and ultimately scored the game's first points on a 24-yard field goal by
Connor Coyne in the first quarter. After a scoreless second quarter, the Ironmen received the second half kickoff and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown. The extra-point attempt sailed wide left of the goal post and the score remained 6-3. The Ironmen seized further momentum when they recovered the ensuing pooch kickoff.
DBP drove the ball 30 yards and ultimately lofted a pass to the back of the end zone where the Ironman receiver won a jump ball and making the score 12-3.
BC took to the offense, but QB
Jaxson Bishop was injured on defense in the previous series. As a result,
Jameson Leon found himself calling the signals. Leon was under duress a number of times, but protected the ball and got it to
Cruz Araujo who took over most of the ball carrying in the second half. One of the key plays that demonstrated the grittiness of the team was a play when Leon was sacked and the Don Bosco defender continued to attack him after the whistle. Leon never let go of the football that the Ironman was trying so hard to strip and he ultimately held on, drawing the foul. BC continued their drive inside the five, but on second and third downs, they were kept out of the end zone by and inspired Ironman team. On the first play of the fourth quarter,
Connor Coyne hit his second field goal of the day, this one from 19-yards out, and BC cut the lead in half to 12-6.
BC attempted an onside kick which went out of bounds around the 40-yard line and DBP had good field position to start. They were unable to move the ball as BC's defense was playing inspired, getting great play from all positions including corner backs
Austin Bryan and
Errol Natto. Bryan made a diving interception at the BC 15-yard line to stop the DBP drive and gave Araujo an opportunity for some heroics. In the wildcat formation, Araujo took the direct snap from center and made a move toward the line of scrimmage. That was all
Santino Petrillo needed to get behind the DBP secondary where Araujo hit him in stride for an 85-yard touchdown pass. The PAT was no good but BC had clawed all the way back to 12-12 with 4:23 remaining.
The Crusaders were not satisfied with that and held DBP to a third and five situation which originally appeared to many of the Iron faithful that there team had picked up a big play and first down. Unfortunately, their wide receiver committed a personal foul on a peel-back block against outside linebacker
Carter Sabathia which resulted in a 3
rd and 21 situation. The penalty actually originated in the NFL in 2012 and is often referred to as the "Brian Cushing" rule, designed to protect defensive players against peel-back blocks that occur from their blind side.
The defense held on third down and Don Bosco punted, giving BC the football at the 20-yard line. Araujo completed a screen for two yards and then on second and eight from the 22, he called his own number. Racing to his left, he hit the sideline and scampered 60 yards before being tackled at the 18-yard line of Don Bosco Prep. Araujo then carried for 7, followed by a 10-yard run giving BC a first and goal from the one-yard line. Don Bosco called a time out and decided to pinch their defensive front after being gashed up the middle mercilessly by BC's O-line. Araujo took the direct snap, took a look in the middle and quickly veered to his left, running to daylight and giving BC an 18-12 lead with 1:23 remaining. A high snap on the PAT challenged holder
Santino Petrillo to field the ball, turn and roll back to his right under pressure. He threw the ball on the run as he was getting hit to
Nathan Wortley who used his 6'4" frame to go up and catch the ball, securing a two-point conversion and 20-12 lead for the Crusaders.
But BC's longest-all-time foe was not ready to surrender. Don Bosco mounted one last gasp drive. Wortley made a terrific saving tackle against the DBP quarterback who had scrambled when no receivers were open downfield. That was followed by Araujo making a tackle on a long pass by the Ironman QB. The play of the day came when
Antonio Rodriguez made a diving defensive swat at a pass on a post-route down the middle of the field.
The Crusaders held on to run out the clock on the Ironmen efforts and improved to 4-0 on the season.
The team drew quite a number of fans and the bleachers were full on both sides with parents demonstrating good sportsmanship and cheering on a great football game. Crusader alumni and former NFL players, Jarrett Guarantano and Tanner McEvoy, were both on hand to see some of the great young talent and the future of BC football!
| TEAMS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
FINAL |
| Don Bosco Prep |
0 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
12 |
| Bergen Catholic (4-1) |
3 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
20 |
